Royal Mail has reached a major milestone after introducing its 9,000th electric van, strengthening the company’s position as the UK’s largest electric delivery fleet. The latest zero-emission version of its iconic red vans joins more than 120 already operating from Colchester Delivery Office.
Royal Mail is aiming to reach Net-Zero by 2040. Its electrification journey began in 2017 with an initial order of 100 electric vehicles and has since rapidly expanded its fleet as part of its commitment to reducing emissions. Now, nearly a third of Royal Mail’s delivery routes are zero-emission, with 44 delivery offices now fully electric.
Electric vans offer savings on running, servicing and maintenance costs over the lifecycle of a vehicle when compared to their diesel equivalents, while also helping the communities Royal Mail serves become cleaner, healthier and better places to live.
Stuart Murphy, Royal Mail’s Head of Fleet Transformation, said: “Reaching 9,000 electric vehicles is a major milestone as we work to transform our fleet. This shift is helping us cut emissions while delivering a better service for our customers, with quieter, cleaner deliveries in communities across the UK.”
Royal Mail is investing in the next generation of zero-emission vehicles. The company introduced its first electric heavy goods vehicles (eHGVs) in December, supporting the decarbonisation of its national distribution network.
Over 100 micro electric vehicles (MEVs) are being rolled out in locations including London, Bristol, Newcastle-under-Lyme, Solihull, Brighton and the Scilly Isles, helping to reduce emissions while making deliveries more efficient. Royal Mail has also recently launched a fleet of 20 e-cargo cycles to make urban deliveries faster and more sustainable.