Royal Mail seeking greener vehicles

[TrueBlueTerrier]

http://www.roadtransport.com/Articles/2 ... icles.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Royal Mail is looking to its commercial vehicle fleet to help it achieve its goal of reducing total CO2 output by 50% by 2015.

Nearly 40% of all Royal Mail's CO2 output, approximately one million tonnes per year, comes from its road transport operations. As a result it is now looking at a combination of hydrogen, electric and fuel-cell technologies to meet its target.

Mark Cavill, carbon management programme manager for the Royal Mail Group, says: "We would switch to so-called green fleets tomorrow if there was an urban postal delivery van available. We believe OEMs are missing a trick because commercial vehicles represent the ideal platform to showcase future propulsion technology.

"They usually run predefined routes and rarely do more than 100 miles in a day so it's an ideal way to set up an infrastructure to support that industry, which would then pave the way for the mass consumer market. Our vans cover 47 miles a day on average."

The firm is trialling two Ford Transits from Roush Technologies in collaboration with Cenex, which are capable of running on both hydrogen and petrol. On hydrogen alone, the Transit has an estimated range of 95 miles.

"We are looking to consolidate our mail centres and use renewable energy sources to power them. One of the solutions is stationary fuel cells, which generate electricity for the centres as well as hydrogen. The gas from the stationary fuel cells can then be used to power the parcel delivery vans," says Cavill.

[DGP1]

Is that why they want to take away our bikes and put everybody into vans

[stokes11eg]

Is that why they want to take away our bikes and put everybody into vans

What happened to all those moped type bikes that were being 'sold' a couple of years ago? Our office was supposedto get three, but it came to nothing.

[dvbuk55]

Is that why they want to take away our bikes and put everybody into vans

I'm pretty sure I could keep a couple of vans running on methane for a few years - brussels, heinz beans and chicken tikka marsala should do the trick

[NWpostie]

Is that why they want to take away our bikes and put everybody into vans

I'm pretty sure I could keep a couple of vans running on methane for a few years - brussels, heinz beans and chicken tikka marsala should do the trick

not forgetting all that hot air from the Ivory tower

[DGP1]

Is that why they want to take away our bikes and put everybody into vans

I'm pretty sure I could keep a couple of vans running on methane for a few years - brussels, heinz beans and chicken tikka marsala should do the trick

If they could bottle it in my office then it would keep the whole fleet going.

[johnsouthwales]

is there an answer? a van needs to be doing 30mph in a 30mph area, or 40 mph in a 40mph and that doesnt leave much natural wear and tear.. other collection points or delivery can mean 50 -60 mph in rural areas..

battery powered vehicles use a lot of energy to create 30mph. and take up an awful lot of energy to recharge.. personally do not see any sense in paying more through electricity costs, even on very short runs..

battery powered scooters..very efficient.. run on fuel and switch onto battery when needed and vice-versa..

in reality, a 50/50 fuel system is need and we are a long way off from this... or even a 70/30 would be an achievement compared to 90/10 what e have now. royal mial will have to make it's mind up, either save money on fuel or save on time.. what is the point off taking off bikes and returning to vans, something will have to give. then again, bikes are ideal for short distances up to a mile. takes 6 mins @ 10mph which is average for a bike,to do a mile on a bike on a straight road using human energy. to do a mile in a van, uses up fuel taking 2 minutes @ 30mph... not taking into account turning at a junction or traffic lights.. and road conditions are not the same in all towns with different terrains. cities have different terrains... and riding a bike these days is pretty hair-raising these days especially in cities. and especially if it is pishing with rain, so a van will have to be used in adverse conditions.

[oypostie]

"We would switch to so-called green fleets tomorrow if there was an urban postal delivery van available.

He missed out "and it was cheap"

[norbert]

"We would switch to so-called green fleets tomorrow if there was an urban postal delivery van available.

He missed out "and it was cheap"

surprised RM haven't ordered any of these , their Board and Senior Management downwards are stuck in that era with their IR & non existent people skills / man management so why not go the whole hogg ?

All I can remember was that skit on " Spitting Image " of " One Man and his Dog " and one of these going down the motorway with a bloke and a Rottweiler in one .
I remember being told about somebody I used to work with getting one back then , as he'd been banned in Court with his motorbike , and p***ing myself laughing .

There's one on Fleabay now , 1 Day & 8 hrs to go , 19 bids up to £170 , it wouldn't be in average condition anymore after a ride round a pikey sink estate

sinclair_c5_overtaking.jpg

- no ex GPO Plasma tellys though AFAIK

[johnsouthwales]

roFL @ sinclair c5.. can walk faster than that lol... may as well use a golf cart haha.

i remember spitting image from around 1988... the skit was temporary postman prat... it had post vans skidding in the snow, postman emptying mail bag down a drain.. and poor jess...

[johnsouthwales]

Deutsche Post has selected IVECO to be a further partner for its fleet of vehicles.

Some 7,500 parcel delivery vehicles are currently in use for the DHL brand in Germany.

Under the terms of the agreement reached at the end of February some 4,500 vehicles are to be replaced in the next two years with new IVECO vehicles. Deutsche Post intends to make a decision on the remaining 3,000 vehicles in 2011.