Post vans and bicycles could soon be replaced by Postman Pat-style electric delivery vehicles after Royal Mail started a trial of the egg-shaped buggies.
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By Chris Irvine
Last Updated: 9:43PM BST 07 Apr 2009
Postman Pat-style electric vans to 'replace traditional bicycles'
Postman Denis Baltrusaitis with the Matra vehicle Photo: INS
The French-manufactured electric vans, with a top speed of 25mph, is being tested in Oxford and Essex and success could lead to a mass roll-out.
Oxford's Royal Mail fleet manager Craig Lightfoot said if the three-month trial proved a success, the Matra model, which has a range of 30 to 35 miles when fully charged, could replace a fleet of Vauxhall Combo vans, which run on diesel.
Mr Lightfoot said: "Staff are very pleased with the Matra so far and we're delighted to have one of only two in use in the country.
"When the Matra arrived, a big crowd of staff gathered round to take a look, and so far the response has been very positive.
"We're looking at ways of becoming more environmentally-friendly and these vehicles are well-suited to town deliveries."
He added: "Some cycles could be phased out if postmen start sharing these vehicles in future.
"We have about 19 Vauxhall vans in our fleet here, so ultimately the Matra could replace them."
Postman Vytenis Baltrusaitis, 32, was one of the first to drive the plug-in van.
He said: "There is no power steering and the vehicle is quite slow but I don't usually go on busy roads on my route, so the round doesn't take any longer than it did before.
"Children wave at me in the street and some people even take pictures.
"The main thing is to remember to charge the vehicle when you get back to the delivery centre - you just plug it straight back in."
