With the growing concern for the environment, aligning with the concept of sustainability is much more than a simple institutional decision for companies. Sustainability sells and is a decisive factor for many people when choosing products and brands. By adopting greener alternatives in logistics, not only is a good image guaranteed, but also possible savings in the sector.
The logistics sector is responsible for approximately 14% of all greenhouse gas emissions, making it of great interest to find sustainable alternative fuels to replace the fossil fuels that are mostly used today. in the post Fuel prices: opportunity for electrification of freight vehicles?, consultant Marina Caldas addresses the rise of electrification of freight vehicles. Mainly with increases in the price of diesel, this migration to electromobility in countries like Brazil has an even greater environmental impact, given that a large part of our energy matrix comes from renewable and clean sources.
In addition to replacing the combustion engine with an electric motor, the evolution of internal combustion with the use of cleaner fuels is already a reality. Brazil is a reference in the production of biodiesel and ethanol, which can be adapted for use in logistics. Natural gas is also an option as it can emit 70% less CO2 when compared to diesel. Volvo, for example, already manufactures trucks powered by biogas that are sold in Brazil. There are also lesser-known options, such as synthetic fuels and the use of hydrogen fuel cells. There is still no obvious alternative that will completely replace diesel, but the constant use and development of these technologies is what brings us closer to carbon neutral logistics.
The use of vehicles with adapted fuels still faces some problems that prevent its popularization. CAPEX is still an impeding factor: the new VW e-delivery, for example, costs almost BRL 1 million, more than twice as much as a diesel truck of similar capacity. Although it has cheaper maintenance and fuels, the initial investment is still a barrier to entry.
Another important point is the infrastructure to accommodate these types of vehicles. In a country where only 13% of the roads are paved, it is difficult to imagine that Brazil is ready to receive these innovations. Recharging points or stations that contain biodiesel and natural gas are still rare and located in large centers or major roads. Therefore, it is necessary to consider the distance of the displacement points and the load points on the route, allocating the vehicles to favorable routes. Electric vehicles have been widely used in green last mile, which have shorter distances and are usually in urban centers.
The use of these alternative fuels still faces a lack of infrastructure and, although the use of more sustainable alternatives in logistics is a certainty, the infrastructure needed to embrace it is still progressing at a slow pace. It is up to companies to manage the use of these alternatives in their operation, selecting routes and vehicles that favor the use of these fuels, bringing the benefits that the use of greener alternatives bring and shielding themselves from the harm. It is important to prepare for the future, which is increasingly putting diesel-powered transport on the sidelines.
References:
– DHL: Sustainable fuels for logistics
– Logistics Insider (14/09/2022): Alternative fuels in the logistics industry: the green energy revolution
– Kogan Page (10/03/2022): What are the Sustainable Fuel Alternatives for Logistics Operations?
– ILOS (08/09/2022): Fuel prices: opportunity for electrification of freight vehicles?
– Volvo: Reduce your footprint with gas powered trucks
– CNBC (20/06/2022): Volvo says it has started testing trucks with fuel cells powered by hydrogen
– Estadão (20/07/2021): VW e-Delivery electric truck is priced higher than Volvo FH 540
