From Ambition to Action: How AllChiefs and Pathfinder Supported Spring GDS in Identifying Electrification Opportunities
AllChiefs supported Spring GDS in assessing electrification opportunities across its transport network, using Pathfinder's AI-powered tool to move from ambition to a practical deployment roadmap!
Company
Spring GDS
App used
Pathfinder Network
Result
A data-driven roadmap showing which lanes to electrify first, with whom and under which conditions
For organisations operating international transport networks, electrification can seem challenging, and it is not a one-size-fits-all solution. Route characteristics, vehicle requirements, charging availability, utilisation and costs all influence the adoption and feasibility of battery-electric trucks (BEVs).
For Spring GDS, the challenge was to translate electrification ambitions into a clear view and a tangible plan that could work across its network. This is where AllChiefs and Pathfinder came in.
Pathfinder’s AI-powered logistics platform helps organisations identify, prioritise and implement effective emissions reduction initiatives while accelerating the transition to electrified road transport. Combined with AllChiefs’ expertise in sustainable logistics, transport decarbonisation and electrification, Pathfinder gave Spring GDS a practical deployment roadmap that took them from ambition to execution.
How the work was done
1. Start with the lanes
Shipment data was used to identify the most relevant truck lanes for electrification modelling, focusing on volume, distance and roundtrip potential.
2. Test what can work in practice
Pathfinder was used to assess different BEV truck configurations, battery sizes and charging setups, including depot, destination and public charging.
3. Build the economic view
For the feasible options, BEV and diesel total cost of ownership were compared across multiple scenarios. The analysis also looked at where higher utilisation or return-flow matching could strengthen the case.
Three takeaways
1. The best starting points are not always obvious
The most attractive starting points are not simply the shortest routes or the lanes with depot charging only. They are the lanes where high mileage, charging access, toll exposure and collaborative partners come together.
2. Public charging can still support a positive business case
Even with public charging, relatively low diesel prices and high international mileage, BEVs can show a positive TCO versus diesel. This is especially true when toll advantages such as the Dutch vrachtwagenheffing and other European road toll mechanisms are included.
3. High utilisation strengthens the case; carrier dialogue is the next step
The strongest opportunities emerge where vehicles can achieve high annual mileage and where inbound and outbound flows can be combined to reduce empty kilometres. The next step is to take these findings into carrier discussions to validate operational feasibility and commercial conditions.
From “can we electrify?” to “where do we start?”
Electrification does not have to be approached as a one-size-fits-all transition. The strongest opportunities depend on the specific characteristics of each transport network, from route distances to vehicle utilisation to charging availability and total cost of ownership.
This is exactly where Pathfinder adds value: moving the conversation from “can we electrify?” to “where should we start, with whom, and under which conditions?” By combining data-driven analysis with practical insights, Spring GDS’ electrification ambitions became an actionable roadmap for accelerating road transport decarbonisation.
“The project provided us with a clear, data-driven view of where electrification could work within our network. Rather than discussing electrification in theory, we now have a practical roadmap that helps us focus on the opportunities with the strongest operational and business case,” says Tatum Bross, ESG Project Manager at Spring GDS.
If you are ready to take the next step, get in touch to explore how Pathfinder can help identify the right electrification opportunities for your network.
About AllChiefs
AllChiefs is a Rotterdam-based consultancy firm that enables organisations to thrive and contribute to a greener, resilient, more interconnected future.
Through our two core practices, Sustainable Workforce and Sustainable Logistics, we bring strategy to execution. Our goal is simple yet ambitious: accelerate tomorrow’s workforce and achieve net zero emissions by 2050.
Within our Sustainable Logistics practice, we accelerate the path towards net-zero logistics, supporting organisations with their strategy and roadmap, logistics emission data calculation, analysis and reporting, and transformation and solution implementation.
About Pathfinder
Pathfinder is an AI-powered logistics planning and decarbonisation platform developed by LOTS Group. Using real transport data, Pathfinder helps shippers, carriers, and logistics providers identify, simulate, and prioritise the most effective actions to reduce emissions, improve operational efficiency, and accelerate the transition to sustainable transport. By combining advanced analytics, artificial intelligence, and logistics expertise, Pathfinder enables organisations to make data-driven decisions that support electrification, alternative fuels, and smarter supply chain design.