Virta Helps Futureproof World's Leading Global Logistics Provider

In the summer of 2020, DB Schenker, the world’s leading global logistics provider, opened a new 14,000-square-metre terminal in Turku, Finland. Virta installed 14 Type 2 Smart Chargers at the terminal: four chargers are for electric distribution vehicles, eight are for employees and two chargers are for visitors. Now the Turku terminal is futureproofed, and DB Schenker is ready to address the growing EV charging demand in a flexible, easy, and scalable way.

The brand new terminal employs about 600 people and handles all DB Schenker shipments in the area as well as Scandinavian traffic. “It was clear from the start that we wanted to install electric vehicle (EV) chargers to our new logistics terminal”, says Arto Väisänen, Maintenance Manager DB Schenker Finland. “More and more employees have either hybrid or fully electric company cars. These EVs require charging points both at the terminal and at employees’ homes”, Väisänen explains.

But it is not just the company cars that need charging. DB Schenker wants to make its transport activities in European cities emission-free by 2030. And so the company decided to gradually convert its fleet of distribution vehicles to e-mobility, as part of its commitment to the global climate initiative EV100.

All vehicles weighing up to 3.5 tons are therefore scheduled to be converted to electric drives or fuel cells by 2030. Half of the vehicles ranging between 3.5 and 7.5 tons will also be electrically powered by then and the plans to use electric distribution vehicles are well underway in Finland.

After considering different options, DB Schenker chose Virta, whose all-inclusive service package set them apart from the competition. Virta was able to provide off-the-shelf, smart, scalable, and flexible charging solutions for the electric distribution fleet’s needs as well as the parking for staff and visitors. “The charger itself is just a small part of the package. It’s the flexibility and scope of the service that counts at the end of the day. Virta makes it easy to use EV charging services,” says Väisänen.

According to Väisänen, cooperation with Virta has been easy and efficient: “We are very satisfied with the cooperation so far. All the necessary changes, for example regarding the programming of the charging stations, have been handled quickly and professionally.” Väisänen says that it is important for DB Schenker to cooperate with partners that share the same sustainable business values. Both Virta and DB Schenker want to drive zero-carbon mobility forward: "We are convinced that success is about more than just our performance — it’s about our social, environmental, and economic impact. We want to be the leading green logistics services provider across the globe and Virta helps us to realize this goal. Virta empowers us as a company and our employees to reduce their carbon footprint.”

Talks are on-going to install additional charging points also for the DB Schenker’s terminal in Vantaa.

About Virta

Virta is the forerunner in electric vehicle charging platform technologies. Over 300 customers with over 50 EV charging brands from 28 countries are currently operating their EV charging services on the Virta platform. The company has been ranked as the fastest-growing electric vehicle charging platform in Europe by the Financial Times on its 2020 FT 1000 list. Virta's technology has received several awards. The company has been recognized as the best Energy brand at Charge Awards 2018 and received the Technology Innovation Award from Frost & Sullivan consulting. www.virta.global/

About DB Schenker

With approximately 21,500 employees, across 430 locations, DB Schenker is the leader in European land transport. The internal business unit connects the most important economic regions in more than forty European countries, with a network of about 32,000 regular scheduled services for general cargo per week.