This year at the World Economic Forum, the Species Corner opened up with a very powerful message. An honest client dialogue must be grounded in science, culture and brave collaboration. The main center of this installation was Monkey Rock a 6-metre artwork by Joep van Lieshout and Climate Basecamp made to start discussion on nature-positive solutions and our shared future.
But before the sculpture could spark conversations worldwide, it needed to reach Davos. This process required a special type of transportation that does not go against the climate principles that the artwork stands for. That’s where DFDS stepped in and made things happen.
A partnership built for progress
Our partnership with Volvo has been going on for years. Volvo is both a valued customer and our supplier that helps us grow our fleet of electric trucks. We now have 150 Volvo FH Electric vehicles in active operation. Together, we test new technologies, trial new routes and pioneer lower emission logistics across Europe.
So, when Atelier van Lieshout approached Volvo Netherlands and requested an electric transport solution capable of crane assisted loading for a long-haul trip to Davos, the call quickly came our way.
The right partners, the right truck, the right timing
Because loading and unloading the sculpture required a crane, we immediately involved our trusted partner in the Rotterdam area - Snelweg Transport, operator of a fully electric rigid truck equipped with an electric crane.
What followed was a rapid, highly coordinated collaboration:
“The collaboration went smoothly. When Volvo came in with the first request on December 19th, I immediately called Snelweg Transport. After a couple of hours we had made our first calculation. In the week just before Christmas, Snelweg and I had the first online meeting with Atelier van Lieshout. After that we kept communication short and efficient between all parties to make sure every action was covered.” - Jeroen van Wensen, Decarbonisation Manager, DFDS
This speed and efficiency allowed us to arrange the complete lower emission transport in time for the sculpture’s installation at Davos, without any operational hurdles.
55% CO₂ reduction: long-haul electric transport in practice
The journey to Davos offered a concrete demonstration of what electric long distance transport can achieve today.
CO₂ footprint comparison (WelltoWheel):
Diesel truck trip: 3.486 tonnes CO₂e
Electric truck trip: 1.545 tonnes CO₂e
Total saving: 1.941 tonnes CO₂e → 55% reduction
Why not 100%?
Because WelltoWheel calculations include emissions from electricity production, and not all charging locations offered certifiable green energy. However:
TanktoWheel (vehicle operation) emissions were zero.
The remaining footprint reflects today’s energy mix, not the vehicle itself.
Enabling climate conversations at the world’s stage
By delivering Monkey Rock to Davos, DFDS in collaboration with Volvo and Snelweg Transport helped enable an ambitious art science platform designed to amplify climate truth, encourage critical debate and engage decisionmakers at one of the world’s most influential gatherings.
Species Corner stands in one of the busiest corridors of Davos, a landmark for environmental dialogue and a venue for daily programming with scientists, artists, policymakers and communicators.
And arriving there by electric truck underscores the message it seeks to deliver.
Looking towards a greener future
This project reflects the core philosophy of our partnership with Volvo - No single company can achieve climate goals alone. But together with manufacturers, logistics providers, artists, innovators, we can accelerate change across entire value chains.
Transporting Monkey Rock to Davos is another step on that journey, showing that even long haul, specialised transport is possible with electric trucks today.
Next week, we will pick up the sculpture again, and we’ll bring it home the same way it arrived: quietly, cleanly and electrically.
