DHL Express has launched 10 new electric courier vans, taking to London roads as part of its UK fleet.
This move is an important step towards making city streets greener and reducing the impact of commercial vehicles on the environment. The rollout of the new Renault ZE Masters vans is the first stage in DHL Express’ plan to run 400 electric vehicles in its UK-wide fleet by 2025.
The vehicles have a range of approximately 75 miles and a payload capacity of circa 10 cubic metres. They are fully direct load capable, which is the operating standard for DHL Express, with parcels stored on shelves in the vehicle to protect from damage and increase delivery efficiency. This first group of vans will be serving customers from service centres around London.
Richard Crook, Director of Fleet at DHL Express said: “We’re delighted to be able to announce the roll-out of 10 new best-in-class electric vehicles as part of our UK courier fleet.
“In our ambition to become the most environmentally-friendly provider on the market we have to balance the needs of customers with protecting and respecting the planet. Recent innovations within battery range and battery technology mean we can now deploy these more sustainable vehicles as part of our fleet and be confident in their ability to meet operational requirements, reducing our reliance on internal combustion engines.”
Previously, range and load issues limited the viability of electric vehicles as a significant part of commercial fleets. Advances in capability, particularly in battery range and charging technology, now mean that electric vans are a practical alternative to traditional fuel vehicles.
“As electric vehicle innovation continues and the range a vehicle can cover on a single charge grows, we plan to expand the electric fleet outside of city locations,” he added.
Both these vans and the existing best-in-class Euro VI diesel fleet are fully compliant with the London Ultra Low Emissions Zone standard, and ongoing investment has seen more than 900 vehicles replaced over the past three years.
Alex Williams, TfL’s Director of City Planning, said: “Freight and servicing are the lifeblood of London’s economy, but it is important that we work to reduce its impact on our Capital’s toxic air and global climate change. Alternatives to diesel and petrol-powered vehicles, such as electric vehicles and cycle freight, can help to make London healthier and safer for everybody and I’m pleased to see companies such as DHL investing in new ways of doing freight.”
Developing green solutions for the DHL Express fleet is just one key aspect of Deutsche Post DHL Group’s ambition to achieve an overall target of zero logistics-related emissions by 2050. The interim target for 2025 is to reduce emissions by operating clean services for 70% of DHL’s own pick-up and delivery services.
Cycling solutions complement electric vehicles for dense delivery areas in city centres, with long-term trials currently taking place in a number of UK cities, including London, Manchester and Leeds.