Royal Mail is putting Yutong’s TE7 electric heavy goods vehicle (eHGV) through its paces as it looks to expand its electric fleet further.
The six-month trial, in partnership with Pelican Electric Trucks, will see the 7.5-tonne Yutong TE7 support Royal Mail’s assessment of how eHGVs can meet the demands of middle-mile fleet operations.
The vehicle will be based out of Bradford South Delivery Office.
Royal Mail has already introduced more than 8,000 electric vans and eight eHGVs into its fleet. This trial, it says, is another step in the organisation’s wider 2040 net-zero strategy.
With eHGV technology still emerging, the trial will enable Royal Mail to assess the vehicle’s range and payload, while also building a clearer picture of the charging and grid infrastructure upgrades required for the future.
Built to Royal Mail’s specification, the Yutong TE7 is fitted with a 132kWh battery which will provide a real-world range of up to 180 miles.
Stuart Murphy, head of fleet transformation at Royal Mail, said: “As new technologies evolve, we are actively exploring a range of options to electrify our fleet.
“Trialling the Yutong TE7 eHGV will give us valuable insight into its real-world performance as we take the next step in transforming our network.”
David Watts, electric truck sales manager at Pelican Trucks, added: “We are delighted to be supporting Royal Mail with this upcoming trial of the TE7.
“As fleet operators continue to explore the transition to lower-emission vehicles, real-world operational experience is increasingly important.
“Smaller trucks, particularly those in the 7.5 tonne category, are ideally suited to electrification. They are also largely depot-based, have predictable route profiles that usually fall well within the electric range of the trucks, can be charged overnight using low power or lower cost AC chargers and are much less likely to require site energy capacity upgrades.”
The Yutong TE7 was launched in the UK at the Road Transport Expo and is available two battery options - 100kWh and 132kWh offering a real-world range of up to 180 miles.