DSV and Acer welcome electric trucks on Dutch route 

Technology company Acer has partnered with DSV to introduce battery electric trucks on one of their key domestic routes in the Netherlands. The journey begins at the DSV warehouse in south of the Netherlands and continues through regional hubs before reaching Acer’s customer. This contributes to reduced local emissions and improved air quality in urban areas.

DSV and Acer have worked together for over 20 years on European transport and warehousing and distribution. Both companies are united in a shared ambition to cut their emissions to zero by 2050. This long history meant that when DSV needed a customer to trial electric trucks on short-haul routes, they knew Acer would be keen to get involved.

We wanted to move outside the typical book and claim framework and directly assign and allocate emission reductions to specific shipments. This made this initiative with DSV very attractive for us.

Riccardo Bernasconi, Sr. Supply Chain Director, Acer.

The new electric trucks have a range of around 400km before needing to recharge, making them ideal for domestic routes in the Netherlands, where infrastructure supports shorter journeys. Once Acer’s cargo is delivered to a DSV site, the trucks return to the DSV warehouse with other shipments—maximizing vehicle utilization and further reducing CO₂ emissions. To enhance the environmental impact of these operations, DSV powers the electric trucks with renewable energy sources, ensuring that the CO₂ reduction potential is fully realized.

Using the new electric trucks in the Netherlands highlights the strong relationship between Acer and DSV – a partnership built on trust, shared goals, and transparent communication.

Acer’s ambition is to design, deliver, reuse and recycle products with the lowest possible carbon footprint across their entire product lifecycle. Their approach – “conscious technology” – recognises that while their business creates emissions, they are committed to reducing them wherever possible.

This aligns closely with DSV’s vision. As the world’s largest transport and logistics provider, DSV is committed to achieving net-zero emissions across all of its own operations by 2050 and driving meaningful industry change. For this to have the maximum impact, it requires collaboration with partners who share the same goals and DSV’s partnership with Acer illustrates this well.

In 2024, DSV delivered the first batch of sustainable aviation fuel to Acer. Furthermore, DSV also provides Acer with quarterly CO₂ reports with detailed insights on their CO₂ emissions down to shipment level. This transparency allows Acer to track emissions per lane and make data-driven decisions around where new emission reduction initiatives will have the greatest impact.

In addition, DSV’s sustainability initiatives also extend to their warehousing. For example, the electric trucks operate from DSV’s new BREEAM Excellent-certified warehouse. This state-of-the-art facility was built with sustainable materials and powered by solar panels.

We want to inspire other companies to take advantage of new battery electric technology. There may be some limitations in terms of distance, but when we share a commitment towards carbon neutrality, we make progress.

Patrick van Ulf, Managing director, DSV Road Netherlands.

For both DSV and Acer, this collaboration represents more than a pilot project; It is a learning journey. As experience grows and technology develops, the project is expected to expand with more electric trucks being deployed on additional routes.