Austrian Post drives electric trucks from Volvo

Austrian Post AG put its first two electric trucks into operation at the beginning of May. The two vehicles shuttle between the logistics center in Vienna-Inzersdorf and Vienna Airport to pick up or deliver international shipments.

Günther Ofner, CEO of Flughafen Wien AG, who used the 39th Logistics Dialogue of the Bundesvereinigung Logistik Österreich (BVL) to get an overview of the deployment scenario, emphasized that sustainability is a high priority at Vienna Airport. Numerous measures to reduce CO2 have been implemented as part of a climate protection initiative since 2011. Against this background, Ofner welcomes the project all the more:

"Approximately 390 tons of mail are transported around the world via the airport each month. The fact that delivery is carried out with e-mobility also contributes to making aviation processes more climate-friendly. Flying itself becomes climate-neutral with alternative fuels (SAF)."

Peter Umundum, Board Director for Parcel & Logistics at Österreichische Post AG, also drew a positive interim conclusion:

"Our drivers are pleased with less noise, fewer vibrations, and better driving behavior - and all this CO2-free. With this 'green corridor' between the airport and the logistics center, we have set new standards and are gaining experiences from which the entire logistics industry can benefit," explained the Post manager.

Speaking of a "pioneering role" that the Austrian Post is specifically taking in terms of Green Logistics, Roman Stiftner, President of the Austrian Federal Logistics Association, said:

"The fleet conversion as well as the new postal centers are a vivid proof of how sustainability is perfectly interwoven with the economy and society as a transformation model," said the association president.

But not only are the e-trucks green and CO₂-free on the road, at both endpoints of this "green corridor," at the airport and in the logistics center, the two companies are working on the decarbonization of tomorrow's mobility.

As one of the first airports in Europe, Vienna Airport has been operating CO₂-neutral according to its own information since 2023, relying, among other things, on solar energy. With eight photovoltaic systems, including one of Austria's largest, the airport covers around 50 percent of its annual electricity consumption from its own solar power production. Additional CO₂ savings are provided by the supply of CO₂-neutral district heating from the OMV Schwechat refinery.

With intelligent building management, the energy consumption of the operational buildings at the site also remains low. Another important factor is e-mobility: with over 380 electric vehicles for aircraft handling, mobile passenger stairs, and catering vehicles, the airport saves about one million liters of diesel per year, according to the airport. Additionally, there are numerous e-charging stations on site. After the world's first flywheel energy storage, a large central e-fast charging station with a charging capacity of 185 KW per pillar will also open this year.