Logistics giant DHL has an extensive effort to electrify its massive fleet of delivery vehicles. The company is both buying EVs and making its own, the “Streetscooter”.
BMW is now getting on board with the Streetscooter program as a supplier for the battery modules. The vehicle will use the same battery modules as the BMW i3.
Professor Achim Kampker, CEO of Streetscooter GmbH, commented on the choice of battery module:
“The BMW i3 high-voltage modules are exemplary for extraordinary reliability and performance in the car sector. They enable us to use state-of-the-art electric drive technology and integrated energy management even in demanding supply and distribution traffic.”
DHL’s Streetscooters are not alone in making that choice. Torqeedo also chose to go with the BMW i3 battery for its new electric boat.
Dr. Alexander Kotouc, Head of Product Management BMW i, says companies using BMW’s battery tech testifies to its capacity:
“The choice of BMW i battery modules for the Streetsccoter is further proof that robustness, innovation and sustainability in future-oriented products are by no means mutually exclusive. The successful transfer of state-of-the-art automotive technology, even in the challenging field of postal and parcel delivery, testifies to the far-sightedness and universality of the BMW i concept.”
The BMW i3 battery pack consists of 8 modules with 12 cells each for a total capacity of 33 kWh.
Electrek’s Take
It’s indeed interesting that other companies are buying BMW’s i3 battery pack to install in other electric vehicles, but to be fair, there are not that many companies supplying full high-capacity battery packs for third-parties.
While electric delivery vehicles are often limited to fairly short routes and don’t require that much range or energy capacity, the electric van platform used for the Streetscooter is built to fit a modular battery system that can hold modules between 30 and 90 kWh of energy, which they claim can enable a range of between 80 km (50 miles) and 200 km (124 miles).
Earlier this year, DHL announced that Ford won an important contract to build 2,500 of the bigger version of the all-electric van for the logistic company.
On top of the Streetscooters, DHL is also buying electric trucks from Daimler and from Tesla.
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