Home > Business > Industry

SSG.com to use electric-powered trucks for refrigerated delivery

Published: 26 Nov. 2020, 18:52 Updated: 26 Nov. 2020, 19:40

[HYUNDAI GLOVIS]

Shinsegae's SSG.com will start using electric-powered delivery trucks for cold chain delivery, the company announced Thursday.

While electric-powered trucks have been used in the delivery of regular parcels, this is the first time in Korea that one fitted with a cold storage unit will be used in logistics, the online retailer explained. Cold storage vehicles require a lot more electricity to maintain temperature.

The vehicles are provided by Hyundai Glovis and will be used starting off at Shinsegae's NE.O 003 logistics center in Gimpo, Gyeonggi. The vehicles were previously used at Shinsegae’s Emart Cheonggyecheon branch, central Seoul to test for safety and capability to keep stable temperatures.

SSG.com and Hyundai Glovis plan to add more electric vehicles for delivering products from the online shopping mall after a three-month pilot period.

The electric vehicles could reduce daily CO2 gas emissions by 56 percent compared to diesel-fueled delivery trucks, SSG.com explained.

Shinsegae has been putting efforts into making its operations environmentally friendly. SSG.com introduced paper packaging for its on-day delivery service, and non-disposable bags for its early day deliveries. Starting April, the company stopped issuing paper receipts.

The online retailer is offering discounts on pesticide-free and organic produce sold on its website from Nov. 30 to Dec. 6, to celebrate the introduction of its electric-powered delivery trucks.

BY KANG JAE-EUN [[email protected]]