German transport and logistics provider DHL said Tuesday that it is piloting the use of four battery-powered heavy-duty trucks in Los Angeles, its first U.S. foray into Class 8 electric vehicles.
The trucks, manufactured by BYD Motors, will haul goods to and from DHL’s Los Angeles air gateway and service center facilities, DHL said. The vehicles’ average length of haul will be 36 miles, and each truck will make multiple hauls per day, according to a company spokesman.
The vehicles will be used to support DHL’s peak U.S. holiday season operations. Terms of the BYD transaction were not disclosed.
DHL already operates electric-powered vans in the California and New York markets. Its air express unit, DHL Express, has 72 such vans on order. The vans on order will primarily be used in New York and California, DHL said.