Theme: Sustainability 
Industry Adaption: ⚫ ⚫ ⚪ ⚪ Early Adopters 
Impact: ⚫ ⚫ ⚫ High 

A 2024 Maersk survey shows that decision makers rank Vehicle Electrification 13th out of the top 15 trends.

Vehicle electrification can be a massive driver for reducing costs and greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions in logistics. The industry contributes 7%¹ of global GHG emissions, and electrifying fleets could reduce this footprint by up to 12%². Driven by regulatory mandates, rising fuel costs, and Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) compliance, this trend offers companies a chance to position themselves as leaders in decarbonisation while optimising operational costs. 

Market data shows steady progress, with global sales of electric forklifts increasing from 98,100 in 2015 to 135,800 in 2023. Over 30 startups since 2015 highlight entrepreneurial activity, while more than 5,000 patents filed between 2019 and 2023 demonstrate strong innovation. However, only a modest number of these are groundbreaking, reflecting the trend’s movement towards full integration in the industry. C-Suite mentions declined from 530 in 2022 to 440 in 2024, suggesting that the shift from the early adopter stage to full industry integration is expected soon. 

^{Average values of the top ten trends: Startups: 57; Patents 9,327 (thereof 316 groundbreaking); Science Publications: 6,141; C-Suite Mentions 1,376; More C-Suite mentions typically signal that trends are in the early or early adopter stage, while fewer indicate movement towards full integration or the industry standard.}

Top 15 Trends

Share of Key Decision Makers, who consider the trend to be relevant for their company’s logistics

 Vehicle Electrification – Relevance by Industry

What are the opportunities? 

Electric fleets have the potential to reduce operational costs through tax incentives and simpler maintenance processes. The use of electrified trucks and vans may enhance brand reputation and aligns with corporate decarbonisation goals. Electric vehicles, increasingly accessible, streamline fleet management and reduce complexity in logistics operations.  

What are the challenges? 

Challenges include battery transport risks, raw material scarcity, and energy limitations amid growing demands, that could impact logistic operations. Many companies await cost parity with traditional vehicles before investing. 

Sources: 

• McKinsey (2024). 
• Survey among 500+ global logistics decision makers across various industries, conducted by Statista for Maersk (2024). 
• In-depth interviews with global industry experts, academia, and futurists. 
• Unstructured web sources with more than 10,000 search term permutations using AI. 
• Curated data from startup databases, patent databases, and analysis tools, as well as Semantic Scholar. 

1. McKinsey: https://www.mckinsey.com/capabilities/operations/our-insights/decarbonizing-logistics-charting-the-path-ahead
2. McKinsey: https://www.mckinsey.com/capabilities/operations/our-insights/decarbonizing-logistics-charting-the-path-ahead