Computer Transport and Logistics

Sustainability

ATC Computer Transport & Logistics launches 2,600km battery electric truck trial in partnership with Chinese electric truck manufacturer Windrose Technology

Press Release: 16/04/2025

ATC Computer Transport & Logistics (ATC), a leading Irish company providing highly specialised transport, logistics, and technical services to hyperscale data centre operators, high-tech freight forwarders, and original equipment manufacturers worldwide, has successfully completed its second long haul battery electric truck trial, this time in collaboration with Windrose Technology.

Windrose is an innovative electric truck manufacturer founded in 2022 and backed by global industrial partners. The company is focused on delivering high-performance, zero-emission long-haul transportation solutions and is currently expanding across Europe.

For this trial with ATC, Windrose deployed its latest 6×4 heavy-duty electric truck, specifically developed for the European market. The vehicle features four independent motors, a peak power output of 1,400 hp, a 730 kWh Nickel Manganese Cobalt (NMC) battery pack, and dual fast-charging ports compatible with both Combined Charging System 2 (CCS2) and Megawatt Charging System(MCS) standards.

In previous real-life demonstrations, Windrose has successfully operated its trucks in double trailer configurations of up to 64 tonnes, achieving 520 km of continuous motorway range on a single charge — setting a new benchmark for electric freight under high payload.

This collaboration with ATC represents a further step in validating that battery-electric trucks can match diesel in both uptime and productivity on long-haul routes — enabling a new standard for zero-emission logistics across Europe.

The journey, which is a round trip starting at the Milence fast charging hub at the TruckStop in Venlo, Netherlands, to Budapest, Hungary, and back, will cover approximately 2,600km in total. This is a typical route operated by ATC for one of their global hyperscale clients, which the company aims to fully electrify.

This trial, with support from the Fleet Electrification Coalition from the Smart Freight Centre, forms part of a broader series of real-world evaluations of Battery Electric Trucks (BETs) in different configurations and across multiple OEM platforms. The objective is to collect robust performance data on energy consumption, emissions, and total cost of ownership (TCO) which are all key inputs in ATC’s comprehensive life-cycle analysis framework.

The current trial follows ATC’s first successful run using one of its own Volvo FH Electric tractor units, paired with a TrailerDynamicse-axle trailer. Further long-range battery-electric trials are already scheduled for the Venlo to Budapest and other routes, in collaboration with leading truck OEMs.

Rainer Hoerbst, Head of Green Logistics at ATC, said: “At ATC, our mission is clear –  we want to prove that battery electric vehicles will outperform diesel on long-haul routes across the continent in every way. This is not a lab test, these are real routes, with real loads, serving some of the most demanding logistics requirements globally. We’re actively working to electrify our routes for key global hyperscale clients in the data centre industry. However, a major challenge is the availability of suitable fast-charging infrastructure, particularly around Vienna and Budapest. This is something we’re keen to tackle alongside stakeholders and OEMs across the sector and we’re looking forward to seeing the results from this trial and future test routes.”

In 2024, ATC invested €22.5 million over five years to support its companywide ‘Driving Green Strategy,’ which focuses on the transition to battery-electric vehicles and achieving net zero emissions by 2030. A key part of this strategy is the ongoing conversion of ATC’s HGV fleet from traditional combustion engines to battery-electric power.

The company has also rapidly scaled up its green initiatives across Ireland and Europe, reinforcing its commitment to zero tailpipe emissions and net zero companywide operations by 2030. As part of this, ATC recently added nine battery-electric Volvo HGVs to its fleet. The fleet was expanded earlier in the year with ten Volkswagen ID. Buzz electric vans, now operating across Ireland and Europe.

From Vision to Reality: How ATC is Shaping the Future of Green Logistics with Battery-Electric Vehicles (BEVs)

The Role of Battery-Electric Vehicles in Green Logistics and Transport 

Transporting goods and people around Ireland and Europe is essential for any economy, but it has always come with a high environmental and social cost. The logistics and transport industry relies heavily on fossil fuels, contributing to climate change and air pollution. ATC asks, ‘How can we make this sector more sustainable and efficient?’ The answer for now seems to be battery-electric vehicles (BEVs).  

BEVs run on electricity stored in batteries instead of gasoline or diesel. Some of the many advantages over conventional vehicles include:  

  • Zero or near-zero tailpipe emissions, which means cleaner air and lower greenhouse gas emissions  
  • Higher energy efficiency, which means lower fuel costs and less dependence on oil imports  
  • Lower noise and vibration, which means less noise pollution and better comfort  
  • Potential for smart charging and integration with renewable energy sources, which means more flexibility and resilience for the electricity grid  

 As demand for goods continues to rise, so does the environmental burden, making it essential to explore sustainable alternatives. 

 

Driving Green: ATC’s Investment in Battery-Electric Vehicles (BEV) 

Demonstrating its unwavering commitment to sustainability, ATC Computer Transport & Logistics has prioritised making transport and logistics more sustainable. The company is investing over €21 million in green technology and transitioning its fleet to battery-electric vehicles (BEVs) over the next five years. This substantial investment forms the backbone of ATC’s ‘Driving Green Strategy,’ a bold initiative designed to decarbonise logistics and transport operations across Ireland and Europe. In taking these decisive steps, ATC reinforced its commitment to achieving net zero by 2030 and setting a clear industry benchmark in Ireland and Europe. 

 

The Promise of BEVs for a More Sustainable Future 

BEVs are especially suitable for urban transport, where trips are short and frequent and where air quality and noise are significant concerns. ATC’s latest investment in nine battery-electric Volvo Heavy Goods Vehicles (HGVs) underscores its unwavering commitment to sustainability. These state-of-the-art vehicles are now integral to ATC’s global fleet, enabling the company to meet ambitious sustainability targets while ensuring operational efficiency remains uncompromised. By leveraging electric power generated from renewable sources, ATC further lowers emissions and proves the value of going green in vehicles and infrastructure. This strategic move aligns with the EU’s vision of achieving an 80-95% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions by 2050. 

Battery-electric vehicles (BEVs) represent a transformative solution to the environmental challenges of traditional logistics. Unlike internal combustion engines, BEVs produce zero or near-zero emissions, marking a pivotal step in the fight against climate change. Continuous advancements in battery technology have made BEVs increasingly competitive, offering improved energy efficiency and reduced operational costs compared to conventional vehicles. 

ATC’s analyses predict that long-haul electric trucks will achieve a lower Total Cost of Ownership (TCO) than their diesel counterparts as early as 2024-2026, depending on electricity and fuel price fluctuations. For urban and regional applications, BEVs are already proving cost-effective. Despite the higher initial carbon emissions associated with battery production, a recent study found that an electric distribution truck driving 500,000 km over its lifespan emits 38% fewer lifecycle emissions than a comparable diesel truck, based on the 2016 EU energy mix. With the expected 2030 energy mix, this figure improves to 63%, and it could reach up to 86% if powered entirely by renewable energy. This demonstrates the tremendous potential of BEVs in transforming logistics towards a more sustainable future. 

 

Policy and Regulatory Support for BEV Adoption 

The EU has recognised the potential of battery-electric vehicles and implemented policies to promote their adoption, such as offering a 50% discount on toll fees to electric drivers across Europe (https://www.oireachtas.ie/en/debates/question/2023-11-08/28/). These policies aim to reduce CO2 emissions, improve air quality, and encourage the use of renewable energy. 

Delving further into the Total Cost of Ownership of these vehicles, a recent report from FTA Ireland, “Decarbonising the Road Freight Sector”, ranks BEV vehicles at the top of the list regarding cost efficiency. For example, a long-haul truck (return-depot-500km) will cost €0.94/km compared to €1.15/km in a diesel engine. We highlighted further economic benefits in our article “Diesel Vs Electric – The Cost of Ownership for Light Goods Vehicles”, where we concluded that ‘while the upfront cost is significant, there is no doubt that the investment in electric vehicles will be recovered through government incentives and overall savings in running costs’.  

 

Leading the Way in Green Logistics 

By transitioning to BEVs, ATC is reducing its environmental footprint and setting a new benchmark for the Irish logistics industry. The company is well on its way to achieving its goal of Net zero by 2030. It anticipates having more than 25% of its fleet tailpipe emission-free by the end of 2024. While cities like Oslo, Lisbon, and Amsterdam lead the way in electric transport adoption, ATC’s significant investment solidifies its position as a frontrunner in this transformative movement. 

Keith Young, Managing Director of ATC, emphasises the importance of this investment: ‘We are incredibly proud to be leading the way in creating a more sustainable future for logistics. Investing in battery-electric vehicles is crucial for reducing our environmental impact and supporting our clients in achieving their sustainability goals.’ 

BEVs are increasingly recognised as the most viable and economically sound future for logistics and transport in Ireland and Europe. ATC’s unwavering commitment to BEVs is a pivotal element of its comprehensive ‘Driving Green Strategy,’ which is dedicated to decarbonising logistics and contributing to a greener future. As ATC continues to drive innovation and invest in cutting-edge sustainable technologies, it enhances operational efficiency and reinforces its leadership within the global logistics industry. For more information on ATC’s green initiatives and to stay updated on the latest developments, visit www.atc-logistics.com.  

ATC Replace Diesel for HVO in their Fleet

In February 2022, we announced that we were piloting Hydrotreated Vegetable Oil (HVO) fuel as a sustainable alternative to diesel across a selected number of trucks and vans. ATC is one of Europe’s leading logistics, white glove and technical service companies for Data Centre clients, and we pride ourselves on being an early adopter when it comes to trialling and implementing new innovative technologies – especially when they could potentially help us as a business to reduce our carbon emissions.

 

At the beginning of 2023, we calculated that the amount of diesel fossil fuel we used in 2022  equates to 1,736 tonnes of CO2e (calculated well-to-wheel WTW, according to the Global Logistics Emissions Council Framework GLEC). We reduced our emissions using HVO for the trial vehicles by about 90% – a small step towards a greener future.

 

We are now delighted to announce that this trial was a triumphant success without any technical issues reported, which has led us to swap out diesel and the associated emissions for HVO  in the majority of our fleet.

 

There are 2 Key-Findings from ATC’s HVO Trial:

 

Reduction in Greenhouse Gas (GHG) Emissions:

When considering this trial and calculating our Scope I emissions, a figure that jumped out immediately was 1.9t CO2e. This number represents the GHG emitted per 1,000 litres of HVO burned, compared to a considerable 3.2 tonnes for every 1000 litres of diesel burned. This is a theoretically calculated emission reduction of about 59% using the European values of emission factors from the GLEC framework.

 

Depending on the raw materials used for the production process of renewable biodiesel, the absolute emission reduction can be over 90% compared to fossil fuel. In our case, we received a Renewable Fuel Emission Reduction Activity (RFERA) certificate from our supplier, which provides details of the feedstock (raw materials), country of origin for the feedstock etc., and states the actual GHG savings of 94% compared to fossil fuel as per the Renewable Energy Directive (REDII).

 

After presenting the findings of this trial in a business case to the board of management, the decision was made to adopt HVO as a bridge fuel for our entire fleet.

Technical and Operational Advantages of HVO:

Besides the mentioned sustainable benefits, HVO provides some important technical and operational advantages compared to diesel. HVO is made from renewable feedstock and lipids like vegetable oil, animal fats, and old greases. It exceeds diesel fuel’s physical and chemical properties and meets the EN15940 standard. HVO is a:

 

  • low sulphur
  • low aromatic
  • transparent
  • oxidation stable, and
  • completely fossil-free paraffinic hydrocarbon fuel making it one of the world’s cleanest fuels on the market.

 

In practical terms, the operational advantages of HVO are as follows:

 

  • longer shelf-life
  • superior cold weather properties, providing a better-starting performance of engines
  • cleaner combustion and
  • reduced AdBlue consumption

 

All of the above support a healthier engine that lasts longer and costs less.

 

Another advantage of HVO is that it is easy to switch to, and there are no additional investment requirements.

 

Driving Forward – The Move from HVO to Battery Electric Vehicles (BEV) and Fuel Cell Electric Vehicles (FCEV):

While we have adopted HVO100 as our bridging fuel for now, ultimately, we will be transitioning into the electrification of our fleet for short and mid-range transportation and hydrogen technology for mid to long-haulage operations.

 

There’s great excitement among the team as we have already ordered the first two zero-emission 26t rigid battery-electric-trucks (BEV) for our Frankfurt entity, and we have started the RFQ process for another three BEV trucks for our Dublin and London operations. In addition, we have agreed on trials with the legendary Volta trucks – more on this to come very soon.

 

We also have several electric vans that have joined our fleet in the last couple of months – we encourage you to read our blog on the cost difference between diesel and electric light goods vehicles, where you will find some interesting insights.

 

We plan on addressing one of the challenges in electrifying our fleet by safeguarding a 100% green power supply from renewable sources for our charging infrastructures and office buildings. We are working on a project to maximise our photovoltaic system, integrate wind turbines and increase energy storage to make our headquarters in Baldonnell energy positive. Our own produced “green energy” is already being used to recharge our BEV fleet.

 

ATC’s promise is that we will strive to empower transformation to a more sustainable business for all our stakeholders, employees, the partners that we work with, and the communities in which we live and work.

 

Thank you for continuing to follow us on this journey, and we look forward to sharing more exciting fleet updates with you very soon.

 

 

Rainer Hoerbst

Sustainability Manager

ATC Exhibit at DCW Frankfurt 2023

On the 10th and 11th of May, ATC exhibited at Data Centre World in Messe, Frankfurt, as part of Enterprise Ireland’s ‘Irish Pavilion’.

It was an excellent opportunity to showcase what we’ve been working on in the area of sustainability, especially as it was a theme of the event this year. Representing ATC at the exhibition were our Sustainability Manager, Rainer Hoerbst and our Data Centre Project Manager, Lize Simon.

On day 1, Enterprise Ireland hosted a series of speakers under the theme of “Ireland Build – Innovative DCs Worldwide – Energy Saving and Sustainable”. Rainer took to the floor, where he shared ATC’s ambitious sustainability goals and some notable achievements that we have made with introducing our battery power vehicles and passive-built HQ.

Other areas that were discussed over the two-day event by over 300 speakers included:

  • Automation and Emerging Technologies
  • Design
  • Building and Investment
  • IT Strategies and Regulation
  • Thermal Management and Advanced Cooling
  • Impact of 5G and
  • Net Zero

Speaking about the event, Lize said, “Being part of this Data Centre World was a truly valuable experience for ATC. Not only did we have the opportunity to share our story and our knowledge around ATC’s sustainability practices in Supply Chain and Logistics, but we also had the opportunity to connect with like-minded professionals from different sectors of the data centre industry and dive deeper into emerging market trends.”

We thank Enterprise Ireland and the organisers behind Data Centre World 2023 and look forward to returning to Frankfurt for DCW 2024.

ATC Sponsors New Sensory Room for Dublin School

Once again, we were delighted to receive a call from Thomas Carroll, Ambassador for the Dublin AWSInCommunities team, inviting us to work on a very special project for a local Dublin school.

St. Michael’s House Special National School in Baldoyle has a clear mission: “To promote the spiritual, moral, cultural, intellectual and physical development of our pupils and prepare them for opportunities, responsibilities and the experiences of adult life”.

Currently, the school supports 60 students with physical and mental disabilities. They have 11 classes with teachers and 5 nurses. We were honoured to lend our support to bring Principal Anna Lombard’s vision to life by upgrading the much-needed Sensory Room – a space for the children to go to relieve pain and relax as they watch the colourful lights and listen to calming music.

The room is furnished with big soft bean bags and low padded benches placed against the backdrop of dark blue walls and dim lighting to protect the calming atmosphere.

 

St Michaels Sensory Room Sensory Room - St Michaels Baldoyle

ATC staff also assisted with painting the playground, hallways, canteen and staff areas. Our team were particularly fascinated by the school’s sensory garden, which the AWSInCommunities team have now covered so that the children can use it no matter what season it is.

 

 

On Friday, the 11th of November, we all gathered in the Sensory garden for the official cutting of the ribbon. The school’s Principal, Anna Lombard, said that she was totally overwhelmed by the work completed, and the children presented heart-warming thank-you cards for everyone present.

We hope that the children of St Michael’s find joy and comfort from these new spaces, and once again, we would like to thank AWSInCommunities for inviting us to be part of such a wonderful project.

Deborah Murray