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Volkswagen Truck & Bus, one of the project’s initiators, completed the first electric truck trip along the corridor in cooperation with the LOTS Group. The 800-kilometre journey, between Resende and Sorocaba, was completed using existing charging infrastructure. The route evaluation helped to identify infrastructure needs and assess the feasibility of large-scale electric freight operations.
The project, part of the Global Green Road Corridors initiative, aims to decarbonise heavy-duty transport between Rio de Janeiro and São Paulo and establish a framework for scaling zero-emission logistics across the region. It brings together public and private partners to aggregate demand for zero-emission freight and align infrastructure investment.
By coordinating fleet operators and logistics companies, the project is designed to reduce investment risk in charging networks and support the commercial deployment of battery-electric trucks.
“Electrification is the future of transportation,” said Andreas Follér, Chief Sustainability Officer at Traton. “But we must be clear-eyed: the road ahead is long. That’s why e-Dutra matters.”
“We are committed to developing sustainable transport solutions for everyone. This is why we joined the coalition as an initiator: to support building a smarter mobility for the next generation,” said Roberto Cortes, President and CEO of Volkswagen Truck & Bus. “And our partnership with different stakeholders harnesses the collective power that will make a difference.”
The e-Dutra coalition includes Traton Group and Volkswagen Truck & Bus, alongside partners such as the Smart Freight Centre, CALSTART, The Climate Pledge, C40 Cities, the World Business Council for Sustainable Development, the International Council for Clean Transportation, and WRI Brasil.
Volkswagen Truck & Bus, or Volkswagen Caminhões e Ônibus (VWCO), kicked off production of the all-electric e-Delivery in Brazil in 2021. It says that it is the only manufacturer to produce an electric bus in the country. Traton notes that DHL Supply Chain, Amazon, and Scania have also begun operating electric freight routes in the region.
