DB Schenker and Porsche Motorsport will take an important step toward climate neutrality by launching a global demonstration tour for the electrically powered GT4 e-Performance race car prototype. DB Schenker has organized a complete sustainable logistics solution for the electric race car’s trip around the world, which will include stops at select racing locations. Among other things, only the most environmentally friendly modes of transport will be used for the tour, which will cover a total of 13,000 kilometres. The GT4 e-Performance Tour will kick off at the end of January with the legendary GP Ice Race in Zell am See in Austria. After that, the electric race cars will be transported in a sustainable manner by ship, rail, and trucks to other events in Europe, the U.S., and Asia.
Both DB Schenker and Porsche have firmly incorporated sustainability aspects into their corporate strategies. For example, the international logistics service provider has set itself the goal of becoming the world’s leading provider of green logistics solutions and is thus the ideal partner for the Porsche GT4 e-Performance Tour.
“This partnership is enabling us to take a major step forward together on the road to green mobility – we’re very much looking forward to addressing this challenge, and we have the right solutions to ensure we’ll be successful,” says DB Schenker CEO Jochen Thewes. “During the tour, we will be able to highlight the progress we’ve made with the development of environmentally friendly transport and logistics solutions around the world.”
The customized logistics solution for the GT4 e-Performance Tour includes environmentally friendly and emission-free rail transport of the concept vehicles, as well as transport with all-electric trucks and ships powered by marine biofuels. The latter mainly consist of fuels made with used cooking oil methyl ester (UCOME). DB Schenker plans to use its position as a partner for the tour to get new target groups interested in green logistics.
“We’re very happy that we were able to get DB Schenker onboard as a partner for our motorsports logistics,” says Barbara Frenkel, member of the Porsche Executive Board, with responsibility for Procurement, and also a co-initiator of the sports car manufacturer’s sustainability strategy.
“Together, we want to generate additional momentum for sustainability and sustainable solutions. Porsche has an ambitious sustainability strategy that we are implementing together with our suppliers. We are now taking steps to make our value chain carbon-neutral on balance by 2030, and this also includes ensuring a carbon-neutral service life on balance for future battery-electric models.”
Prototype for all-electric customer motorsports
The GT4 e-Performance will offer Porsche the possibility to provide customers with a motorsports option with all-electric race cars in the future. The strategy here makes use of the technology components in the IAA Mission R concept car, which Porsche presented in 2021 as a vision for the future, but which the company has now made a reality. The vehicle’s body is made of, among other things, composite materials based on natural fibers. The prototype, which is not for sale, will be presented for fans and potential customer teams around the world to marvel at during the tour. However, the electric race car will also collect valuable data during the tour, which will enable Porsche to gain new knowledge for use in the future – and not only for motorsports.
The global tour will begin with the prestigious GP Ice Race in Zell am See from January 27-29, 2023. After that, it will move on to the U.S., where the innovative concept vehicle will take part in the famous Grand Prix of Long Beach in April, as well as in other races. Then it’s on to the Asia-Pacific region for a series of events in the second half of the year.
DB Schenker’s stated goal: Clean logistics
As a pioneer in the field of innovative logistics solutions, DB Schenker has set itself the goal of becoming the world’s leading provider of green logistics services. The company continuously invests in renewable energy and environmentally friendly products for its customers in order to achieve its ambitious goal of ensuring climate neutrality by 2040. The company also plans to achieve complete sustainability transparency in 2023.
“We believe we have an obligation to continue our pioneering work and move ahead even further in the area of clean logistics – and ensure consistent and transparent communication in this regard as well,” says Thewes.
About DB Schenker
With around 76,100 employees at more than 1,850 locations in over 130 countries, DB Schenker is one of the world’s leading logistics service providers. The company operates land, air, and ocean transportation services, and it also offers comprehensive solutions for logistics and global supply chain management from a single source. DB Schenker is celebrating its 150th anniversary in 2022. The company continuously invests in innovative transport solutions, renewable energy, and environmentally friendly products for its customers in order to achieve its ambitious goal of ensuring climate neutrality by 2040.
