Volvo Financial Services (VFS) and DFDS partner on a lease agreement for six MOL RME225 Ro-Ro tractors powered by Volvo Penta electric drivelines.
MOL and Volvo Penta began collaborating to develop an electric 4X4 Ro-Ro tractor in 2021. The prototype was delivered to the DFDS terminal in Ghent, Belgium, where it was integrated into daily operations, executing operational tasks for over a year as part of validation activities.
As WorldCargo News reported in June 2024, the MOL RME225 featured a Volvo Penta driveline with three battery packs totalling 270 kWh of installed energy, an EPT802 gearbox, and two 200 kW propulsion motors. A separate 50 kW motor powers the hydraulic system and the fifth wheel.
Financing solutions
To support the transition to electric equipment, Volvo Penta and VFS are working together to make the electric machines more accessible through financing solutions. An initial agreement sees DFDS and VFS entering into a seven-year lease agreement on six MOL RME225 Ro-Ro tractors with Volvo Penta electric drivelines, supported by Volvo Penta service contracts for preventative maintenance and VFS insurance coverage.
Fleet transition
Volvo Penta and VFS said DFDS – one of Europe’s leading shipping and logistics companies – is the first customer to benefit from the partnership with its order of six MOL 4X4 Ro-Ro tractors, which are powered by Volvo Penta electric drivelines. “Volvo Penta and Volvo Financial Services (VFS) have partnered to support DFDS with its ambition to transition a significant portion of its 280 diesel-powered terminal tractors to electric off-highway vehicles over the next few years”.
Jeroen Overvelde, area sales manager, Volvo Penta Industrial, said leasing electric equipment is an attractive option for end customers while the technology evolves rapidly. “The upfront investment remains higher than for traditional combustion engine equipment,” he said. “Now that we have developed this financial solution, we will bring this approach to other segments, markets, OEMs, and customers, supporting the transition to sustainable transport solutions and making electrification more accessible for customers.”
Partnering for success
“MOL and Volvo Penta are great companies to work with,” said Raf De Wit, terminal director at DFDS. “They really listen to us as customers. Therefore, they understand our needs and how we want the machines to work. In our view, MOL and Volvo Penta aren’t suppliers – we consider them partners, and I know that’s how they would describe us too,” he said.
“The MOL and Volvo Penta engineering teams asked us exactly what we wanted, they delivered it, and then asked us how they could improve it and help us further. It’s great finding solutions together, and that’s exactly how it should be, particularly in this new era of electrification.”
“This partnership represents a significant step towards more sustainable and efficient port logistics,” added Conrad Verplancke, sales engineer responsible for terminal tractors, port equipment and special vehicles at MOL. “Customers respond very positively when they learn that Volvo Penta delivers the complete electric driveline package. They value that Volvo Penta’s expertise in electric drivelines is part of the tractor’s design, and that local service and parts for the drivelines are supported by Volvo Penta’s extensive service network.”
*This story first appeared in the June 2026 print issue of WorldCargo News.
