Royal Mail’s new 100% electric vans (EVs) are pictured in Green Street Green – South East London - today, as the Company celebrates the expansion of its zero emission EV fleet by quite literally turning the new vehicles green. The 190-vehicle expansion of the already 100-strong fleet forms part of Royal Mail’s involvement in Ofgem-funded Optimise Prime – the world’s largest commercial electric vehicle project.
- Following the successful deployment of 100 zero carbon emission electric vans across the UK, Royal Mail announces the roll out of a further 190 electric vans, liveried in green to mark the occasion, rather than traditional red.
- The 190 ‘green’ vans will be delivering letters, parcels and cards to the doors of customers across selected areas across London and the South East, including Bexleyheath, Dartford and Whitechapel, East London.
- The mixture of small and mid-sized vans can travel between 93 to 106 miles per charge, and can be powered from flat in six to eight hours.
- The expansion will act as a complement to the Company’s iconic ‘red’ fleet of over 41,500 vans, and is part of Royal Mail’s involvement in the Optimise Prime project. The project aims to bring together leading power, technology, fleet and transport companies to test and implement the best approaches to EV rollout for commercial enterprises.
- With the UK's largest "Feet on the Street" network of 90,000 postmen and women, Royal Mail already plays a key role in keeping carbon emissions low, and is committed to reducing CO2 emissions associated with its operations still further.
- 2019 marks over 120 years since Royal Mail first experimented with motorised vehicles to deliver the mail. Over its 500-year history, the Company has delivered the nation’s post using numerous modes of transport, ranging from horse and cart to steam engine.
Londoners will see some of Royal Mail’s iconic red vans turn green this month, as the Company announces that 190 zero carbon emission, electric vans will deliver letters, parcels and cards across selected locations in the capital and surrounding areas.
Following the successful roll-out of 100 zero emission electric vans around the UK last year[1], Royal Mail is expanding its electric fleet with the new vehicles, which have been wrapped a striking shade of green to mark the occasion.
The mix of Mercedes-Benz eVito and Peugeot Partner vans are charged via wall or floor mounted charging posts. They are specially designed to help postmen and women deliver letters and parcels in a secure and environmentally-friendly way.
With load capacities ranging from 3.7m3 to 6.3m3, the vehicles will operate as part of usual delivery routes. They will be launched during July across selected locations in London and the South East including Whitechapel, Islington, Bexleyheath, Dartford and Orpington in Kent, * (see below for full list of locations).
The expansion will complement the Company’s iconic existing red fleet of over 41,500 vans, and forms part of Royal Mail’s involvement in the Optimise Prime project, which aims to bring together leading power, technology, fleet and transport companies. Led by Hitachi Vantara and UK Power Networks, Optimise Prime is the world’s biggest electric vehicle demonstrator project, and brings together leading power, technology, fleet and transport companies - including SSEN, Uber and Centrica - to test and implement the best approaches to the EV rollout for commercial enterprises.
A responsible Company
Royal Mail has already reduced its overall carbon emissions by 29% since 2004, and with the UK's largest "Feet on the Street" network of 90,000 postmen and women, the Company already plays a key role in keeping its carbon emissions low. The expansion of its fleet of electric vans and trial launch of e-Trikes[2] serve as recent examples of the Company’s efforts to continue to reduce CO2 emissions associated with its operations
Paul Gatti, Royal Mail Fleet Director said:
“As a Company, we are committed to making changes to our operations that reduce our environmental impact, whilst ensuring we continue to meet customer expectations. This trial is part of a programme of initiatives across our business that will ensure we can continue to deliver letters and parcels safely, efficiently and in the most environmentally-friendly way possible.”
Nicole Thompson, Director, Social Innovation & Co-creation Partnerships, Hitachi Vantara said:
“The Optimise Prime consortium is delighted to see the first tranche of new commercial electric vehicles on the road. By sharing data and collaborating with this industry-led initiative, Royal Mail is helping us pave the way for the mass adoption of electric vehicles in the UK.”