The scenery on German roads is transforming. The once dominant soundtrack of rumbling combustion engines is gradually giving way to the futuristic hum of electric vehicles—easily recognized by the “E” on their license plates and their absence of exhaust fumes. Increasing numbers of wall boxes are being installed on carports and driveways in residential areas to power private EVs. Meanwhile, charging stations are appearing at gas stations and car parks, enabling drivers to charge their vehicles while shopping or on the go.
Delivering and installing wall boxes like these for end customers has long been part of everyday operations in the last-mile segment at Rhenus High Tech. The latest podcast episode focuses on their ability to handle projects on a much larger scale: In collaboration with Siemens eMobility, Rhenus High Tech — the European market leader in technical distribution — has been supplying fuel stations and charging hubs for quite some time. This includes infrastructure for bus depots, service station operators, public transport providers and fleet operators. Siemens eMobility relies on Rhenus expertise to deliver and prepare for commissioning charging stations produced in Europe for their customers.
In the podcast, Sebastian Dickneite, Sales Director at Rhenus Special Delivery, explains the challenges that this task poses for everyone involved. “The coordination effort is rather complex,” he says. “It’s about much more than simply dropping off a charging station and driving off again.” The preparation involves close coordination not only with customers, but also with operators such as gas stations or highway rest stops, as well as all trades involved in the procedure. Rhenus handles every step, from pick-up and interim storage at the depot to final delivery and installation by certified electricians. “We cover the entire supply chain of a charging station until it finally is up and running – and in the shortest possible time.” The only task for Siemens is the final commissioning.
The advantage from Siemens point of view: They can offer uncomplicated solutions for a wide range of customers that go beyond simply providing a charging station – including the complete installation. “We are happy to join forces with a partner that we are convinced is a good fit for Siemens,” explains Thomas Friedrich, who is responsible for the logistics of the charging stations.
Listen to the new episode of Logistics People Talk to find out how Siemens and Rhenus are already adjusting for the future loading capacities of cars and trucks, whether deliveries can also be carried out by e-truck and how both companies are preparing for the future of e-mobility.
Note: This episode is currently only available in German.
