Royal Mail has taken delivery of its 7,000th EV and announced plans to add a further 1,800 electric vans to its fleet over the next year
The latest electric van has been deployed at its South Lambeth Delivery Office, adding to the 70 others already used for deliveries and collections there and reinforcing its position as the UK’s largest electric delivery fleet.
Another 1,800 electric vans, along with supporting charging infrastructure, will be introduced over the next year, almost half of which will be supplied by Stellantis and built at its Ellesmere Port plant.
Royal Mail acquired its first 100 electric vehicles in December 2017, deployed in delivery offices around the UK.
Nearly a quarter of Royal Mail’s delivery offices now use EVs for deliveries and collections, and almost all the firm’s electric vans are charged onsite across its property estate via a purchased 100% renewable electricity supply.
The organisation is also introducing its first-ever electric trucks, in collaboration with Magtec, and supported by an £800,000 grant from Innovate UK.
These two new 19-tonners are currently being trialled in real-world conditions.
Alistair Cochrane, Royal Mail’s chief operating officer, added, “Today, we’ve hit a major milestone in our journey to reach net zero by 2040.
“We’ve strengthened our position as the UK’s largest electric delivery fleet and our investment in 1,800 more zero-emission vans will help us maintain this in the future.
“Royal Mail is going the extra mile to decarbonise its fleet, with huge benefits for our posties, our customers and the planet.”
