DHL now electrically on the move in Malmö

Falkenklev Logistik from Sweden is completely converting its city transport in Malmö to electric drive. With a total of six new Fuso eCanter 9C18e, the Swedish logistics company is expanding its electric fleet. The bright yellow light trucks are used exclusively for DHL transport traffic on the southern coast of Sweden in the Skåne region and especially in the city area of Malmö. Falkenklev Logistik is a long-standing partner of DHL.

Up to 15 Pallet Spaces

The compact 8.55-tonners offer space for up to 15 pallets with a wheelbase of 4,750 mm and a maximum body length of 7,200 mm.

"They fill the segment gap between transporter and heavy distributor and are exactly what we were looking for to electrify our daily traffic for DHL in the city center of Malmö," describes Victor Falkenklev, CEO of Falkenklev Logistik AB, the requirements.

The entrepreneur was so convinced of the suitability of the eCanter for his intended purpose that he ordered the vehicles sight unseen and without a test drive. With around 20 to 30 stops to deliver and collect goods and a length of on average just under 20 km, the tours are perfectly suited for the use of purely electric vehicles—as opposed to diesel vehicles, which are not very efficient during constant stop-and-go traffic. The eCanter are equipped with a size M battery pack, consisting of two batteries and allowing for a range of up to 140 km.

Additional Step

For use in Malmö, the general importer Veho Import AB, newly represented in the Malmö region since the beginning of 2024, equipped the new eCanter with an additional step at the entry at the customer's request. Although the cabin's entry height in the eCanter is already very low, the additional step is intended to give future drivers who switch from larger trucks to the eCanter and are accustomed to steps a familiar feeling. Additionally, Veho equipped the vehicles with a roof spoiler and side wind deflectors. This is intended to positively impact efficiency and visually harmonize the cabin with the box body.

Leading Role in the Transformation

Victor Falkenklev explains his entrepreneurial motivation as follows: “I have been thinking for a while about how to set up our business sustainably. For my two small children and also for myself, I wish for a greener future. But that only happens if everyone becomes active in their area and makes a change.”

Together with his mother Marita, the owner, and his brother William, the CEO at the Helsingborg location, the 33-year-old runs the family business in its third generation, which his grandparents founded back in 1957.

Own Solar Park

Victor Falkenklev started with a solar park that the company had built in 2022. The facility in Perstorp, about 80 km northeast of Malmö, covers 15,000 m², produces over 1 million kWh of electricity per year, and has an associated battery storage with 2 MW capacity, contributing to grid stability. The electricity is fed into the grid via the public energy supplier, and through certificate trading, Falkenklev Logistics can retrieve it at its locations.

"We have about 140 trucks on routes that we could easily handle electrically," explains Victor Falkenklev.

He first invested in half a dozen heavy distribution trucks from a Swedish manufacturer and an eActros 300. The company also owns nearly 20 Mercedes-Benz eSprinter.

But his vision goes even further: "Then I thought, okay, we need to charge these vehicles. If we could do this with our own electricity from the solar park at our own charging stations, the 'Green Circle' would be complete."

Sweden's First and Largest Charging Station for Heavy Vehicles

Directly opposite the Falkenklev location in Malmö Arlöv, Sweden's first and largest charging station for heavy vehicles with 22 CCS2 charging points and a battery storage was established. The charging standard allows up to 350 kW of power and is suitable for trucks and cars. The initial plan was to charge the company's own electric fleet overnight. Then Victor Falkenklev came up with the idea of building an additional business out of it.

"So we quickly turned it into a public charging park during the day. It is used by many people here in the industrial area," describes Victor Falkenklev.

He is now also the CEO of Rifil Laddpark, his own charging infrastructure company. It recently opened a second charging park in Perstorp, and three more locations are already planned for the Skåne region.