Royal Mail has introduced its first fleet of eight electric Heavy Goods Vehicles (eHGVs) at parcel hubs in Daventry and Warrington.
The eight DAF 42-tonne XD 350E electric HGVs – which replace diesel-powered 42-tonners – will operate around the clock, handling ‘middle-mile’ deliveries between parcel hubs and mail centres.
Due to its membership of Electric Freightway, Royal Mail has installed high-speed chargers at the two parcel hubs.
Each vehicle will be powered by ABB’s high-performance T360 chargers, capable of adding up to 60 miles of range in under 15 minutes.
Electrification is central to Royal Mail’s strategy to achieve Net-Zero by 2040 and the new eHGVs are expected to save about one thousand tonnes of carbon emissions per year.
The company already operates the UK’s largest electric delivery fleet, with more than 7,000 vans charged on-site using 100% renewable electricity.
Electric Freightway, led by Gridserve, is backed by more than £100 million in investment, including £62.7 million of UK Government support.
It will deliver the UK’s most advanced public charging networks for eHGVs, with about 200 chargers capable of up to 350kW and supporting more than 140 electric trucks nationwide.
Nick Dunn, Royal Mail’s National Distribution & Fleet Director, said, “Introducing electric HGVs into our network is a major milestone in decarbonising our operations and achieving our Net-Zero target.
“This is an important first step in learning how we can efficiently integrate eHGVs into our operations across the country.
“We’re combining cutting-edge vehicle technology with high-speed charging infrastructure, made possible by Electric Freightway, which will transform how we deliver across long distances.”
