Suzano, the world’s largest producer of market pulp, in partnership with VIX Logística, a company of the Águia Branca Group specialized in logistics solutions, announces it has begun testing the first high-capacity electric truck in Brazil capable of towing up to 120 tons, at its Aracruz site, located in the state of Espírito Santo, Brazil.
Image Credit: Suzano S.A.
The “Atlas” truck, developed by VIX, has the potential to save up to 8,300 liters of diesel per month and reduce CO2 emissions by approximately 21 tons.
Suzano’s ambition is to reduce emissions by 20% on the route between the mill and Portocel – where products from Suzano’s Aracruz Unit are exported to different parts of the world. This partnership marks a significant step in accelerating the energy transition of Suzano’s pulp transportation fleet, allowing Suzano to integrate more sustainable transportation practices throughout its operations, and reinforcing the company’s commitment to sustainability at all stages of the supply chain.
The implementation supports Suzano’s Commitments to Renewing Life – its long-term targets aligned with the UN Sustainable Development Goals, in building a better world for people and the planet. Deploying “Atlas” into Suzano’s transportation fleet will help Suzano in its goal of removing 40 million tonnes of CO2 from the atmosphere by 2025 environment, a volume equivalent to São Paulo’s emissions over two years.
"The partnership with VIX Logística is an important strategic marker for us, representing a significant milestone in our efforts to implement new technologies at all stages of our operations to help us deliver cleaner and more efficient transportation solutions", says Beatriz Nalevaiko Venturini, Operational Excellence Manager at Suzano.
The “Atlas” truck, and its capacity to hold 120 tons, is a significant improvement on traditional solutions available on the market, which weigh around a total of 40 tons (truck weight + load). Developed from a Mercedes-Benz Axor 3344 chassis, “Atlas” operates via electric propulsion and, because of lithium iron phosphate (LFP) batteries, offers a far more sustainable alternative.
Elias Alves, director of VIX and responsible for VIVA - VIX Autonomous Vehicles – said the partnership aligns with the company's innovative culture: "Having an innovation drive within the company allows us to test creative and bold solutions. The adoption of efficient and sustainable technologies is a major trend in the market, and VIX stands out in this movement, remaining at the forefront of the logistics sector."
Suzano and VIX Logística started testing “Atlas” in May this year. The vehicle's operational performance will be carefully monitored by Suzano during the first few months, with the intention of further deploying the alternative to other operations of the company.