Rhenus High Tech, a leader in high-tech logistics solutions, is actively participating in the REALIST research project, which focuses on electrifying urban delivery services in Stuttgart. Collaborating with the University of Stuttgart and the city, the project explores real-world logistics operations using electric trucks through a two-year feasibility study and practical trials. As a freight forwarding partner in this “real-life laboratory,” Rhenus High Tech will launch its first electric truck for testing in mid-August 2024.
The company, renowned for its expertise in value-added logistics for high-tech products such as electric charging stations, medical devices, solar panels, and heat pumps, is committed to ensuring efficient, flexible transport for sensitive, high-volume goods. Rhenus High Tech’s specialized fleet and extensive network guarantee that products are safely delivered to their final destinations.
REALIST project
In line with its dedication to environmentally friendly logistics, Rhenus High Tech continually tests green initiatives, such as using alternative fuels. Its participation in the REALIST project (Real-life Laboratory to Accelerate the Electrification of Urban Logistics Traffic in Stuttgart) reinforces this commitment to sustainability. Frank Willemelis, Fleet Manager at Rhenus High Tech, emphasized the company’s leadership in green logistics, particularly for last-mile deliveries: “We’re proud to be part of this groundbreaking project and contribute to improving the environmental impact of urban logistics.”
Supported by Stuttgart’s Climate Innovation Fund, the REALIST project is distinctive due to its integration of logistics and the electricity grid, a concept Charlotte Wagner, Project Manager at the University of Stuttgart, describes as both economically and technically innovative.
A Three-Phase Project
The REALIST project consists of three key phases: a feasibility study, practical trials with freight forwarding partners, and the gradual rollout of the concept to the marketplace. The feasibility phase began in August 2022, and Rhenus High Tech’s practical trials are scheduled to start in August 2024. In addition to testing electric trucks, the project will also assess the city’s electricity supply infrastructure, with a test area in an industrial estate in Stuttgart. Participating companies will evaluate the transition to electric vehicles within their processes.
Rhenus High Tech will oversee the installation of charging infrastructure and the project’s acquisition and operation of an electric truck. The company will also provide operational statistics and telematics data to optimize vehicle performance. Continuous collaboration among all partners will ensure the sharing of up-to-date information, fostering joint problem-solving efforts.
In the final phase, the insights from the trials will inform the development of a comprehensive power supply and logistics model for electric urban deliveries in Stuttgart.