Aramex on the road to fleet electrification
Sonia Sali
Trade and logistics are the need of the hour today to keep goods moving and businesses running, but they have a significant impact on the environment. To tackle this, logistics companies like Aramex are shifting towards fleet electrification. In an interview with CargoTalk Middle East, Manosij Ganguli, Group Chief Sustainability Officer at Aramex, highlights the company’s efforts to electrify its fleet and slowly bring this method into everyday logistics.
How does Aramex determine which routes are ready for electrification?
At Aramex, we assess routes for electrification based on operational feasibility, infrastructure readiness and total cost of ownership (TCO). Key considerations include daily mileage and route predictability, vehicle utilisation, payload requirements and the availability of reliable charging infrastructure. We also consider access to suitable EV models and the vehicle replacement cycle, ensuring electrification aligns with natural fleet renewal.
Routes with predictable mileage, consistent utilisation and suitable payload requirements can offer stronger opportunities for EV deployment, especially where charging can be integrated effectively into operations. Our focus is therefore on deploying EVs where they can deliver both environmental and operational benefits while delivering competitive operating costs over the vehicle lifecycle.
What infrastructure changes would help logistics companies accelerate fleet electrification in the UAE and Saudi Arabia?
The continued expansion of reliable public and commercial charging networks will be fundamental, but for logistics operators, greater access to depot-based charging is equally important. Making it quicker and easier for logistics operators to install charging infrastructure and secure the electrical capacity needed to charge larger EV fleets would allow companies to scale EV fleets more efficiently. Greater standardisation of charging solutions across markets would also help operators managing regional networks. Fleet electrification is part of our broader board-approved sustainability strategy and 2030 decarbonisation roadmap.
At the same time, continued investment in renewable electricity can further strengthen the environmental case for electrification. Accelerating the transition will ultimately require collaboration between governments, utilities, charging providers, vehicle manufacturers and logistics companies to ensure infrastructure develops in parallel with commercial fleet requirements.
What are Aramex’s biggest challenges in deploying EVs across the Middle East?
The operating environment varies significantly across the Middle East, so there is no single approach to electrification. Charging availability and site electrical capacity differ between markets, while access to suitable commercial EV models can also constrain deployment. Longer-distance routes may not yet be appropriate for full electrification, and the region's high temperatures require careful vehicle selection, testing and operational planning. This is why at Aramex we take a phased, evidence-based approach. Before introducing EVs into our UAE last-mile fleet, for example, Aramex conducted rigorous trials at different times of the day and year specifically to account for weather conditions and ensure vehicles could support reliable delivery operations.
Is Aramex using renewable energy, such as solar, to power EV charging?
We see fleet electrification and renewable energy as complementary parts of our wider decarbonisation strategy. Aramex has invested in renewable energy, including solar installations across markets such as the UAE, Jordan, Egypt and Ireland, while continuing to increase the role of renewable electricity across our operations. Our objective at Aramex is to progressively increase renewable-energy use across our facilities, which can in turn support the wider transition to electric mobility. We do not currently disclose a specific percentage of fleet charging powered directly by renewable sources, so it would be inaccurate to provide one. The direction, however, is clear: combining cleaner vehicles with cleaner electricity strengthens the overall emissions-reduction potential of fleet electrification.
Is Aramex’s delivery fleet fully electrified, or does it use a mix of electric and conventional vehicles?
Aramex currently operates a mixed fleet. Our approach is to electrify progressively and where it is operationally and commercially viable, rather than applying a single solution across every market or route. We introduced fully electric delivery vehicles in Jordan as early as 2017, tested EVs in Saudi Arabia and introduced fully electric vehicles into our UAE last-mile fleet in 2023. Today, our fleet strategy combines electric and other lower-emission vehicles, alongside sustainable fuels where appropriate. Fleet electrification remains an important part of our wider decarbonisation strategy, but successful deployment depends on vehicle availability, infrastructure and the operational requirements of each market.
What role will government incentives, charging infrastructure and renewable energy play in accelerating Aramex’s transition
All three are important enablers of fleet electrification at scale. Government incentives can improve the economics of the transition by reducing upfront investment barriers, while reliable and accessible charging infrastructure is essential to maintaining day-to-day operations and allowing fleets to scale. Renewable-energy development can further increase the emissions-reduction potential of electric vehicles by enabling cleaner charging. For logistics operators, predictability is particularly important because investment decisions involve vehicles, depots, charging infrastructure and grid capacity. Closer collaboration between policymakers, utilities, vehicle manufacturers, charging providers and logistics operators can therefore help accelerate adoption while ensuring the transition remains commercially and operationally sustainable.
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