Volvo Trucks South Africa has delivered the first of nine new electric trucks that will be added to DSV’s local fleet over the next few months. Three new Volvo FM 4×2 8-t electric trucks will be joining DSV’s fleet in support of its Air & Sea operations.
As part of its wider sustainability strategy in South Africa, DSV is expanding its electric fleet in support of its road operations. By the end of 2025, five new Volvo Trucks FM 4×2 electric tractors will join the fleet, with one more expected to arrive in January 2026, strengthening the partnership with Volvo Trucks and offering customers further sustainable transport solutions.
This South African milestone follows DSV’s global agreement with Volvo Trucks in 2024 to purchase 300 electric trucks in Europe, bringing the company’s total global electric fleet to around 500 vehicles. The deal was one of the largest commercial orders for Volvo electric trucks at the time and marked an important step in DSV’s efforts to reduce emissions and lead the green transition within the transport sector.
“Partnering with a global leader such as DSV on this journey is an honour and a testament to our shared commitment to shaping a cleaner, more sustainable future for transport,” says Waldemar Christensen, MD of Volvo Trucks South Africa.
“It is truly inspiring that global transport leaders like DSV are integrating electric trucks into their daily operations, demonstrating that sustainable transport is both practical and efficient in South Africa. We take pride in the role electric trucks play in reducing emissions while creating a quieter, more comfortable working environment for drivers.”
Extensive operational studies comparing electric vehicles with internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicles indicate that electric trucks perform particularly well in volume-based operations, making them an ideal fit for DSV’s business model and sustainability strategy.
“We are proud to unveil our first Volvo 8-ton electric truck in partnership with Volvo Trucks SA. As the first of its kind for both organisations in South Africa, it represents an important step forward in delivering on our sustainability commitments,” says Melanie Smit, Vice President Air & Sea, Sub-Saharan Africa.
During operational trials at DSV, this new 8-t electric truck demonstrated an average energy consumption of just over 1 kWh per kilometre, with a range of 230 km on a single charge. Their efficient operating range and fast-charging capability make them well suited to the division’s daily operational needs, while ensuring minimal downtime and maintaining service reliability for customers.
Gordon Wyatt, CEO of Air & Sea for the Middle East and Africa region, says: “This investment moves us further along our sustainability journey and strengthens our ability to support customers with efficient, low-emission transport solutions that reflect DSV’s global strategy and values.”
Both DSV and Volvo Trucks are committed to the science-based targets initiative, which drives ambitious climate action in the private sector.
According to Eric Parry, Senior Sustainability Manager of Volvo Trucks South Africa, the installation of solar and a Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) at DSV Park Gauteng enables clean, renewable energy to power DSV’s electric trucks, reducing operational carbon emissions. Together with the elimination of harmful exhaust gases, this represents a major step forward in improving their environmental impact.
“Our trials with DSV have shown that Volvo electric trucks have the capacity and range needed to run a full day’s operation without needing to be charged during running hours,” explains Parry. “For drivers, operating the electric truck feels almost identical to our Volvo ICE trucks, so the transition is seamless. Because the controls and functionality are familiar, there’s very little additional training needed. The DSV drivers have already completed their handover training and are now ready for business as usual.”
The Volvo FM Electric 4×2 rigid is an all-electric, heavy-duty truck designed for applications like regional transport, container transport, and waste handling, particularly in urban environments due to its low noise and emissions. It has an estimated range of up to 300 km, depending on operational conditions, with battery capacity options from 180 to 540 kWh, and a powertrain with up to 3 electric motors and an I-Shift gearbox providing up to 490 kW of continuous power. The “4×2” designation refers to its axle configuration: one drive axle and one non-drive axle.
Volvo Trucks South Africa first introduced electric trucks in the country in 2023. The company’s electric truck line-up includes Volvo FH, the Volvo FM, and the Volvo FMX, in truck tractor or rigid configurations, from 4×2 to 8×4.
Volvo’s electric trucks have now driven more than 250-million customer kilometres since the company launched its first electric models in 2019. Volvo is a leader in the electric truck segment with more than 5 700 trucks delivered to customers in 50 countries.
