Image: DHLDHL Supply Chain has long played a key role in the electric vehicle industry. In February this year, the contract logistics provider, part of the DHL Group, opened its 20th Competence Centre for Electric Vehicles in Slovakia.Soon, another site will be added—this time dedicated exclusively to battery logistics. Unlike the existing competence centres, which store other EV components alongside batteries, this new facility will focus solely on batteries. The decision to establish it in Holtum stems from DHL’s existing automotive operations at the site.By linking to the adjacent DHL Supply Chain automotive site in Holtum, a European campus for electromobility and energy systems is set to emerge. The new facility will include an approximately 17,000-square-metre storage and service area for high-voltage batteries. These batteries will serve electric vehicles and the rapidly growing segment of battery energy storage systems (BESS).“The transformation of mobility and energy systems is a key driver of change in global supply chains,” says Rainer Haag, CEO of DHL Supply Chain Europe. “By expanding our battery logistics capabilities in Holtum and closely linking them with our existing automotive expertise on site, we are creating a scalable one stop shop solution for the EV sector. This investment directly supports DHL Group Strategy 2030, where New Energy is a decisive growth driver for our business across Europe.”The Holtum campus offers excellent connections to the European transport network, with direct access to major motorways between the Netherlands, Belgium, and Germany, as well as proximity to a container and inland shipping terminal on the Juliana Canal. This connection to the waterway network enables more efficient and resilient supply chains and provides customers with additional options for sustainable logistics in Europe, according to DHL.The new site is designed to meet the demands of complex and strictly regulated supply chains and offers a wide range of value-added services, the company states. These include the storage of battery units, diagnostic and performance testing, charging and conditioning, maintenance, reverse logistics, and preparation for recycling. As such, the site can cover the entire battery lifecycle.dhl.com