Primed for the future
Royal Mail has signed a deal with EDF in the UK, the UK’s leading low carbon energy producer, to deliver electric vehicle (EV) infrastructure.
This partnership will support our commitment under the Optimise Prime Project – the world’s largest commercial electric vehicle project. The three-year framework will see EDF provide charging points, associated maintenance and ancillary items such as signs, bollards and wheel stops.
The initial scope for this agreement will see wall or floor-mounted chargers installed on sites in the South East of England, including 87 new electric vehicles at Mount Pleasant Mail Centre in London, with potential for this to increase as required.
Mount Pleasant now operates one of the largest commercial electric vehicle charging points in the capital. Londoners will see more of our iconic red vans turn green and red this month, with a further deployment of zero-emission, electric vans due to roll out over the next two months. Once operational, electric vans will make up a little under half of the Mount Pleasant’s total fleet of 216 small vehicles.
With only two pedals and an improved double-door layout in the back of the cab, they are easier and more intuitive for deliveries. Driver, Vijay Lohia (pictured), said: ‘I love them. They’re clearly great for the environment and very easy to manoeuvre! I wish everyone would switch to electric.’
The initiative supports and accelerates our shift to zero emission technologies. The mix of Mercedes-Benz eVito and Peugeot Partner vans are specially designed to help colleagues 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 the mail centre’s usual delivery routes.
Choosing EDF as our framework provider of choice forms part of our commitment to sustainability and reducing our carbon footprint.
Philippe Commaret, managing director for customers at EDF, said: ‘The fact that the largest fleet operator in Europe has committed to such an ambitious project is a turning point in our journey to a low-carbon future.
‘Working with Royal Mail to install EV infrastructure at their UK sites will allow them to accelerate towards an electric future, and hopefully inspire other businesses to follow suit.’
Fleet director, Paul Gatti, said: ‘As we continue to realise our EV ambitions, we are careful to choose the right partners along the journey. We chose to work with EDF Energy – not just as a supplier – but also as a solutions partner to implement our new sustainability strategy.
‘Over the three years we are confident that, alongside EDF Energy, we can deliver the infrastructure needed to power Europe’s largest commercial fleet of EVs.’
