Hamburg Port Consulting (HPC) has helped Cargo Handling International (CHI), a supplier of air cargo logistics services at Frankfurt Airport, secure funds for the conversion of its truck fleet.
CHI is preparing a trial project as part of its ‘Green Logistics’ strategy as an introduction into CO2-neutral land transport to provide its clients in the region of Frankfurt Airport climate-friendly transfer of airfreight goods.
CHI has commissioned HPC to do a feasibility study to find viable propulsion technology for the regions of application, to designate an efficient truck manufacturer, and to create a financing proposal for the investment.
The study focuses on the technological requirements for ecologically friendly transport in the short-haul sector in the Frankfurt Cargo City Green Line area.
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In addition, the performance requirements for future CO2-free truck use in long-distance travel between Frankfurt Airport and Nuremberg Airport were investigated.
As part of its comprehensive due diligence, HPC conducted an operations and technical assessment, including feasibility and risk analysis, as well as equipment and civil engineering assessments.
Kai Domscheit, Managing Director of CHI Germany Cargo Handling, said: “As a technology pioneer and one of the leading provider of forwarding handling in air freight, we want to take into account the increasing requirements for climate-neutral transports in the air freight sector.
“When selecting the appropriate environmentally friendly truck type, we have to ensure that we can deliver the usual reliability and high quality to our customers.
“In this respect, the feasibility study has provided us with a sound basis for decision-making.”
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HPC aided CHI in successfully obtaining finance for the purchase of its first electrically driven truck, as well as the necessary charging infrastructure.
The Federal Ministry of Digital Affairs and Transport is funding the initiative with roughly €500,000 ($548,000) as part of the ‘Climate-friendly commercial vehicles and infrastructure (KsNI)’ guidelines on the promotion of light and heavy commercial vehicles with alternative, climate-friendly drives and accompanying refuelling and charging infrastructure.
National Organisation Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Technology (NOW GmbH) coordinates the financing criteria, and applications are authorised by the Federal Office for Logistics and Mobility.
Hartmut Beyer, Associate Partner and Head of Funding Management at HPC, stated: “Many freight forwarders are more and more often faced with the task of implementing their customers’ expectations of carbon-free transport of goods at reasonable investment costs.
“The national as well as European grant programmes are an important additional support for the medium-sized freight forwarding sector in this regard. We are very delighted to have identified a future-proof solution for CHI.”
If the outcomes are as expected on the road, further efforts to convert the full fleet are planned according to CHI.
