Competitor Watch
Parcel giant DPD has added the brand new fully-electric Mercedes-Benz eVito van to its electric fleet, and launched a new electric vehicle pilot in Ireland as demand for last mile sustainability grows.
DPD has commissioned 10 of the 3.2-tonne long-bodied versions of the ground-breaking model, which has zero tailpipe emissions.
The new vans will enter service in London, where DPD currently has three all-electric depots in Westminster, Shoreditch and Hyde Park. The eVito is also set to play a part in a nationwide roll-out of DPD’s EV fleet later this year.
The Mercedes-Benz eVito employs an electric motor which channels its 116 hp output to the front wheels via a single-speed automatic transmission. Fully recharged in six hours, it gives the eVito a range of approximately 93 miles.
As part of our own commitment to reduce our environmental impact, we have deployed 100 electric vans in 17 delivery offices across the UK. We are also conducting trials of zero-emission e-trikes for letter and parcel deliveries, and using electric vehicle technology for larger commercial vehicles to move mail within our network.
In October last year, DPD opened the UK’s first all-electric parcel depot in Westminster. The depot is completely emission-free for both incoming parcels, served by two 7.5t fully-electric FUSO eCanters, and last-mile deliveries, which are carried out by a fleet of electric vans and micro-vehicles.
DPD chief executive, Dwain McDonald, said: ‘We’ve got plans to add over 100 more EVs to our fleet in 2019 as we begin our roll-out across the UK. We will double that in 2020, and double it again in 2021 to over 550 electric vehicles.
‘In the meantime, we are continuing to explore all opportunities to reduce and neutralise our carbon footprint and provide smarter and more efficient urban delivery solutions.”
Meanwhile, DPD Ireland is investing €3.2 million to electrify its fleet over the next 12 months. The investment for the ‘ElectriCity’ green vehicle project, will include purchasing the EVs, hiring personnel, employee training, acquiring the depots and refurbishment.
ElectriCity was launched in Dublin in April at DPD Ireland’s newest location, Dublin’s Docklands Innovation Park on East Wall Road. The new electric fleet, will serve 15 electric routes in the Dublin city centre area, and comprises vehicles in a range of sizes from small Paxsters whose versatile size allows easy movement throughout the city streets, to the Goupils and LDVs which will carry larger parcels.
Royal Mail is part of a small group of UK businesses to use a sizeable number of electric vehicles in its main operation. We have already met our business target of reducing our carbon emissions in the UK by 20% by 2010-21. We will continue to look at new and innovative ways to reduce our carbon footprint.
