Royal Mail adds 7,000th electric vehicle to fleet

Royal Mail has unveiled its 7,000th electric vehicle and announced plans to add nearly 2,000 more over the next year.

Its latest electric van has been deployed at the South Lambeth Delivery Office, adding to the 70 others already used for deliveries and collections there and reinforcing its position as the UK’s largest electric delivery fleet.

A further 1,800 electric vans, along with supporting charging infrastructure, will go live over the next year, almost half of which will be supplied by Stellantis and built at its Ellesmere Port plant.

It’s the latest landmark for Royal Mail, which purchased its first 100 electric vehicles in December 2017, deployed in delivery offices across the UK.

Almost a quarter of Royal Mail’s delivery offices now use electric vehicles for deliveries and collections. Nearly all of the company’s electric vans are charged onsite across its property estate via a purchased 100% renewable electricity supply.

The UK delivery giant is also pushing ahead with the rollout of its first-ever electric trucks, in collaboration with Magtec. Supported by an £800,000 grant from Innovate UK, the two new 19-tonners are putting through their paces in real-world conditions.

Royal Mail’s landmark 7,000th electric vehicle was unveiled by Lilian Greenwood, Minister for the Future of Roads, who said it was a “crucial milestone for Royal Mail”.

Alistair Cochrane, Royal Mail’s chief operating officer, added: “Today, we’ve hit a major milestone in our journey to reach net zero by 2040. We’ve strengthened our position as the UK’s largest electric delivery fleet and our investment in 1,800 more zero-emission vans will help us maintain this in the future. Royal Mail is going the extra mile to decarbonise its fleet, with huge benefits for our posties, our customers and the planet.”