DHL Express has launched 10 electric courier vans in London as part of its UK fleet. The rollout of the Renault ZE Masters vans is the first stage in DHL Express’ plan to run 400 electric vehicles in its UK-wide fleet by 2025.
The vehicles have a range of approximately 75 miles (120km) and a payload capacity of 10m3 (350ft3). They are fully direct-load capable, which is the operating standard for DHL Express, with parcels stored on shelves in the vehicle to protect them from damage and increase delivery efficiency. This first group of vans will be serving customers from service centers around London.
Richard Crook, director of fleet at DHL Express, said, “We’re delighted to be able to announce the roll-out of 10 new best-in-class electric vehicles as part of our UK courier fleet.
“In our ambition to become the most environmentally friendly provider on the market we have to balance the needs of customers with protecting and respecting the planet. Recent innovations in battery range and battery technology mean we can now deploy these more sustainable vehicles as part of our fleet and be confident in their ability to meet operational requirements, reducing our reliance on internal combustion engines.”
Both these vans and the existing best-in-class Euro VI diesel fleet are fully compliant with the London Ultra Low Emissions Zone standard, and ongoing investment has seen more than 900 vehicles replaced over the past three years.
Alex Williams, TfL’s director of city planning, said, “Freight and servicing are the lifeblood of London’s economy, but it is important that we work to reduce its impact on our capital’s toxic air and global climate change. Alternatives to diesel and gasoline-powered vehicles, such as electric vehicles and cycle freight, can help to make London healthier and safer for everybody and I’m pleased to see companies such as DHL investing in new ways of doing freight.”