DHL opens Shanghai EV Centre of Excellence

DHL has opened its latest electric vehicle (EV) Centre of Excellence in Shanghai, China, to support EV companies. 

This marks the Group’s first EV Centre of Excellence in China, the largest global EV market, following locations in Indonesia, Mexico, the United Arab Emirates and the United Kingdom. 

DHL Global Forwarding manages the Shanghai facility. It is developed closely with Team EV of DHL Customer Solutions and Innovation (CSI), DHL Express, and DHL Supply Chain. 

The facility specialises in logistics for EV products, including batteries, electric motors, charging infrastructure, etc. It has a team of specialists to ensure efficient handling, storage and transportation while meeting the unique needs of the EV sector. 

“In 2023, Chinese automakers dominated the global EV market, manufacturing over half of the EVs on the roads worldwide and becoming the largest car exporter. China is home to six of the top ten EV battery manufacturers, supplying nearly 60% of the world’s battery cells. Our understanding of the logistical complexities in the EV industry, coupled with our global network, positions us to facilitate this next chapter of international expansion for Chinese EV firms,” DHL Global Forwarding APCA chief executive Niki Frank says. 

“It takes an entire ecosystem to support the growth of Chinese EV makers as they expand globally. From documents, parts to raw materials, DHL is providing stable and reliable logistics support for industry players in China to tap into the overseas market and help reinforce China’s standing in the global EV sector,” DHL Express China chief executive Dongming Wu says. 

The growth and appetite for EVs present specific challenges for manufacturers, such as the need for strategic storage solutions at both the origin and destination to manage increased battery shipments. Additionally, with batteries classified as dangerous goods, there are stringent safety and regulatory requirements to navigate. 

One of the main features of the Shanghai EV Centre of Excellence is the fully integrated, modular, end-to-end logistics solutions for finished vehicles and batteries. This comprehensive service suite includes: 

• Domestic pickup with certified transportation service for export to/from various locations in China
• Certified EV-compliant warehousing managed by qualified teams specialised in handling all EV-related functions. Warehouses in different provinces can handle the loading and unloading of lithium batteries as well as buyer consolidation for export
• Compliant multi-modal international transportation network for batteries and finished vehicles with end-to-end temperature and humidity monitoring for international transportation to global Inbound-to-manufacturing (I2M) plants and aftermarket distribution centres
• Storage and sorting solutions at arrival including last-mile delivery using DHL’s transport network at destination countries and customs clearance

“Our Dangerous Goods (DG) specialists have worked with customers to ensure compliant movement of battery cells in line with relevant global and local regulations. We’ve also worked on rail solutions for EV powertrains, including last-mile delivery with sensor-tested humidity requirements. This is made possible as we use the combined knowledge of all our EV Centres of Excellence globally,” DHL CSI Global Auto Mobility Sector president Fathi Tlatli says. 

The Shanghai facility is supported by DHL Global Forwarding’s extensive network of 35 branches strategically positioned to optimise major gateways across China. It has a network of 50 warehouses and cross-dock facilities with a presence in major commercial cities. This includes access to warehouse space to store and handle batteries and finished vehicles for import and export. A team of EV and DG experts will also work with customers to deliver the right solutions in an evolving landscape. 

DHL Global Forwarding has also made strides in its sustainability efforts in China. It has a fleet of over 250 electric and hydrogen vehicles in China, operating for a monthly mileage of more than 320,000 miles. 

In China, DHL Express had achieved 26% fleet electrification by 2023 and has now welcomed over 50,000 GoGreen Plus customers. It also introduced a fleet of hydrogen energy trucks with local partners for long-haul operations in Shanghai, making China the first among the 220 countries within the DHL Express network to do so.