Environmental Record: DHL - Wikipedia

DHL Aviation
is a division of DHL (owned by Deutsche Post) responsible for providing air transport

capacity. It is not a single airline, but refers to several airlines owned, co owned or chartered by DHL
Express. Deutsche Post World Net rebranded to Deutsche Post DHL (DPDHL) in March 2009. In the
United States, DHL Airways was renamed Astar Air Cargo, which in turn, operated air freight
services as a cargo airline for DHL, until June 2012.
DHL - Wikipedia
Environmental record
DHL has taken measures to control their environmental effect by use of alternative fuel vehicles.
DHL changed vehicles in certain delivery fleets in order to use alternative fuels. Certain new vehicles
use compressed natural gas, to which DHL hopes to convert 50% of their vehicles in the future.[31]
Compressed natural gas is a fuel that can be used in place of petrol (gasoline), diesel fuel,
and liquefied petroleum gas (LPG). CNG combustion produces fewer undesirable gases than the
aforementioned fuels. In comparison to other fuels, natural gas poses less of a threat in the event of
a spill, because it is lighter than air and disperses quickly when released. Biomethane —
refined biogas from anaerobic digestion or landfills — can be used.
CNG is made by compressing natural gas, which is mainly composed of methane (CH4), to less than
1% of the volume it occupies at standard atmospheric pressure. It is stored and distributed in hard
containers at a pressure of 20–25 MPa (2,900–3,600 psi), usually in cylindrical or spherical shapes.
CNG is used in traditional petrol/internal combustion engine automobiles that have been modified, or
in vehicles specifically manufactured for CNG use: either alone (dedicated), with a segregated petrol
system to extend range (dual fuel), or in conjunction with another fuel such as diesel (bi-fuel).
In response to high fuel prices and environmental concerns, CNG is starting to be used also in Auto-
Rickshaws, pickup trucks, transit and school buses, and trains.
The cost and placement of fuel storage containers is the major barrier to wider/quicker adoption of
CNG as a fuel. It is also why municipal government, public transportation vehicles were the most
visible early adopters of it, as they can more quickly amortize the money invested in the new (and
usually cheaper) fuel. In spite of these circumstances, the number of vehicles in the world using
CNG has grown steadily (30 percent per year).[1] Now, as a result of the industry's steady growth, the
cost of such fuel storage cylinders has been brought down to a much more acceptable level.
Especially for the CNG Type 1 and Type 2 cylinders, many countries are able to make reliable and
cost effective cylinders for conversion need.[2]
CNG's volumetric energy density is estimated at 42 % of that of liquefied natural gas, because it is
not liquefied, and at 25 percent of that of diesel fuel.[3]
Advantages[edit]
A CNG-powered bus being refueled in Madrid, Spain.
 Natural gas vehicles have lower maintenance costs than other hydrocarbon-fuel-powered

vehicles.
 CNG fuel systems are sealed, preventing fuel losses from spills or evaporation.
 Increased life of lubricating oils, as CNG does not contaminate and dilute the crankcase oil.
 Being a gaseous fuel, CNG mixes easily and evenly in air.
 CNG is less likely to ignite on hot surfaces, since it has a high auto-ignition temperature
(540 °C), and a narrow range (5–15 percent) of flammability.[12]
 CNG-powered vehicles are considered to be safer than petrol-powered vehicles.[13][14][15]
 Less pollution and more efficiency:
o CNG emits significantly less pollution directly than petrol or oil when combusted
(e.g., unburned hydrocarbons (UHC), carbon monoxide (CO), nitrogen oxides (NOX), sulfur
oxides (SOx) and PM (particulate matter)). For example, an engine running on petrol for
100 km produces 22 kilograms of CO
2, while covering the same distance on CNG emits only 16.3 kilograms of CO
2.[16]
o The lifecycle greenhouse gas emissions for CNG compressed from California's
pipeline natural gas is given a value of 67.70 grams of CO
2-equivalent per megajoule (gCO2e/MJ) by CARB (the California Air Resources Board),
approximately 28 percent lower than the average petrol fuel in that market (95.86
gCO2e/MJ).
o CNG produced from landfill biogas was found by CARB to have the lowest
greenhouse gas emissions of any fuel analyzed, with a value of 11.26 gCO2e/MJ (more than
88 percent lower than conventional petrol) in the low-carbon fuel standard that went into
effect on January 12, 2010.[17]
o Due to lower carbon dioxide emissions, switching to CNG can help
mitigate greenhouse gas emissions.[12] However, natural gas leaks (both in the direct use
and in the production and delivery of the fuel) represent an increase in greenhouse gas
emissions. The ability of CNG to reduce greenhouse gas emissions over the entire fuel
lifecycle will depend on the source of the natural gas and the fuel it is replacing.
Drawbacks[edit]
Compressed natural gas vehicles require a greater amount of space for fuel storage than
conventional petrol-powered vehicles. Since it is a compressed gas, rather than a liquid like petrol,
CNG takes up more space for each GGE (petrol gallon equivalent). However, the cylinders used to
store the CNG take up space in the trunk of a car or bed of a pickup truck that has been modified to
additionally run on CNG. This problem is solved in factory-built CNG vehicles that install the
cylinders under the body of the vehicle, leaving the trunk free, e.g., Fiat Multipla, New Fiat
Panda, Volkswagen Touran Ecofuel, Volkswagen Caddy Ecofuel, Chevy Taxi, which sold in
countries such as Peru. Another option is installation on roof (typical on buses), but this could
require structural modifications. In 2014, a test (by the Danish Technological Institute)
of Euro6 heavy vehicles on CNG and diesel showed that CNG had higher fuel consumption, the
same noise and production of CO2 and particulates, but NOX emission was lower.[18]
Leakage of compressed natural gas into the environment "from well to wheels" is a recognized
contributor to climate change. According to studies by the Environmental Defense Fund and its
partners, "Assuming EPA's estimates for leak rates, compressed natural gas (CNG)-fueled vehicles
are not a viable mitigation strategy for climate change because of methane leakage from natural gas
production, delivery infrastructure and from the vehicles themselves. For light-duty CNG cars to
become a viable short-term climate strategy, methane leakage would need to be kept below 1.6% of
total natural gas produced (approximately half the current amount for well to wheels – note
difference from well to city)." [19]
Leakage of unburned methane as natural gas is a significant issue because methane, the primary
component of natural gas, is a powerful, short-lived greenhouse gas. It is more than 100 times more
potent at trapping energy than carbon dioxide (CO2), the principal contributor to man-made climate
change. When considering its conversion to carbon dioxide over time its impact on an integrated
weight basis is 84 times more potent after 20 years and 28 times more potent after 100 years,
according to the Environmental Defense Fund's report "The climate impacts of methane emissions.".
[19]
Comparison with other natural gas fuels[edit]

Compressed natural gas is often confused with LNG (liquefied natural gas). Both are stored forms of
natural gas. The main difference is that CNG is stored at ambient temperature and high pressure,
while LNG is stored at low temperature and nearly ambient pressure. In their respective storage
conditions, LNG is a liquid and CNG is a supercritical fluid. CNG has a lower cost of production and
storage compared to LNG as it does not require an expensive cooling process and cryogenic tanks.
However, CNG requires a much larger volume to store the energy equivalent of petrol or petrol and
the use of very high pressures (3000 to 4000 psi, or 205 to 275 bar). As a consequence of this, LNG
is often used for transporting natural gas over large distances, in ships, trains or pipelines, where the
gas is converted into CNG before distribution to the end user.
CNG is being experimentally stored at lower pressure in a form known as an ANG (adsorbed natural
gas) cylinder, where it is adsorbed at 35 bar (500 psi, the pressure of gas in natural gas pipelines) in
various sponge-like materials, such as activated carbon[20] and MOFs (metal-organic frameworks).
[21]
The fuel is stored at similar or greater energy density than CNG. This means that vehicles can be
refueled from the natural gas network without extra gas compression, the fuel cylinders can be
slimmed down and made of lighter, weaker materials.
Compressed natural gas is sometimes mixed with hydrogen (HCNG), which increases the H/C ratio
(hydrogen/carbon ratio) of the fuel and gives it a flame speed up to eight times higher than CNG.[22]
Codes and standards[edit]

The lack of harmonized codes and standards across international jurisdictions is an additional barrier
to NGV market penetration.[23] The International Organization for Standardization has an active
technical committee working on a standard for natural gas fuelling stations for vehicles.[24]
Despite the lack of harmonized international codes, natural gas vehicles have an excellent global
safety record. Existing international standards include ISO 14469-2:2007 which applies to CNG
vehicle nozzles and receptacle[25] and ISO 15500-9:2012 specifies tests and requirements for the
pressure regulator.[26]
The National Fire Protection Association's NFPA 52 code covers natural gas vehicle safety
standards in the United States.
On 16 September 2005, DHL won a High Court injunction establishing an exclusion zone around
each of its 288 buildings in the UK as well as the homes of its 18,000 UK employees. The firm has
been the subject of a campaign of intimidation because of their business with Huntingdon Life
Sciences. The judge banned protesters from coming within 50 yards (46 m) of any DHL premises or
the homes of their employees as well as any organized demonstration within 100 yards (91 m)
unless the police had been given four hours' notice. The injunction also protects anyone doing
business with DHL from intimidation.[32]
Use of electric vehicles[edit]
Electric StreetScooter Work (2016)

In December 2014 Deutsche Post DHL purchased the StreetScooter company, a small manufacturer
of electric vehicles as part of its long-term goal to reach zero emissions in its delivery operations.
[33]
By year end 2016, some 2,000 vehicles had been produced.[34][35]
In the future, electric vans with a much greater range will be required to achieve the long-term goal
of replacing the entire Deutsche Post and DHL Express fleet of approximately 70,000 vehicles with
StreetScooter models.[36]
The Deutsche Post/DHL GoGreen program plans to reduce emissions of greenhouse gases and
local air pollutants; the company has four interim goals for doing so, to be achieved by the year
2025. The long-term goal, summarized by Frank Appel, Chief Executive Officer, is more aggressive.
"From now until 2050, our mission will be to drive our business toward zero [logistics related]
emissions. We are setting the standard for the future of the transport sector and doing our part to
help the world community reach its goal of limiting global warming to less than two degrees
Celsius."[37]
BYD supplies DHL with electric distribution fleet of commercial BYD T3.[3

Environmental Record: DHL - Wikipedia

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Environmental Record: DHL - Wikipedia

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DHL Aviation

is a division of DHL (owned by Deutsche Post) responsible for providing air transport

 Natural gas vehicles have lower maintenance costs than other hydrocarbon-fuel-powered

Comparison with other natural gas fuels[edit]

Codes and standards[edit]

Use of electric vehicles[edit]

Electric StreetScooter Work (2016)

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