Maersk conducts pilot project to promote electric trucks in Brazil

A.P. Moller–Maersk has conducted a pilot project to promote the use of electric trucks in cargo transportation in Brazil. The test was conducted using electric truck tractor models that allow road transportation of containers (FCL).

The pilot project lasted for two weeks and was carried out with two different electric truck manufacturers in Brazil. To explore the possibilities of providing connectivity in road transportation, tests were conducted in the metropolitan region of São Paulo on a 100km route, covering areas such as Barueri, Barra Funda, and São Bernardo do Campo – where the charging point is located – and on a 230 km stretch between the Port of Itapoá and the city of Araquari (round trip) in Santa Catarina.

“Intermodal connectivity is essential to connect Brazil’s population with products arriving and being exported through the ports. With 60% of Brazilians living within 200 km of the coast, cabotage is vital, but the integration of railways, trucks, and supporting distribution centers is essential to ensure seamless end-to-end logistics. The growing need for land transport capacity makes it even more important to ensure that we can also provide sustainable solutions for these critical transportation modes in the region. In Brazil, we are building a comprehensive network with the aim of seamlessly integrating the entire logistics process for our customers and reducing emissions. Our assessment of sustainable alternatives, including electrified heavy trucks, in a region where such options are limited, provides valuable insights to drive tangible progress towards our commitment to achieving net-zero by 2040,” said Karin Schoner, President for the East Coast of South America at Maersk.

For the pilot projects, Maersk installed electric charging stations in its operational areas to ensure overnight charging. The reliance on logistic facilities and land transport on renewable electricity sources is closely tied to factors such as local infrastructure investment requirements and support from regional regulations. Currently, electric vehicles and solutions involving alternative fuels are only available on a limited scale in these contexts.

To achieve climate-neutral land transport solutions by 2040, Maersk is prioritizing electrification in heavy trucks in collaboration with customers using 100% renewable electricity sources, as well as identifying unique emission reduction opportunities within modal shifts.

“This pilot will facilitate testing and developing sustainable solutions for our customers, which can help them meet their environmental and ESG objectives. On our journey to reach net-zero by 2040, Maersk will continue to seek sustainable solutions in Latin America to meet both our customers’ growing demand for cleaner end-to-end logistics and fulfill our own decarbonization commitments,” emphasized Alexis Rodríguez, Head of Energy Transition Execution for Latin America at Maersk.

The call for more sustainable business practices comes from both consumers and customers. Remarkably, more than half of Maersk’s top 200 customers have already committed to the UN Global Compact, which supports the 17 United Nations Sustainable Development Goals by 2030. Furthermore, two-thirds have set goals to achieve net-zero or science-based targets.

To meet the need for sustainable end-to-end logistics solutions, Maersk is actively exploring opportunities in regions where infrastructure to reduce emissions on land is not readily available. Currently, Maersk is evaluating the results of the pilot test in Brazil to determine the scalability of integrating these solutions into the region’s product portfolio, providing customers with a wider range of sustainable transportation options.

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