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Saturday 25 July 2020
Parcel firm DPD delivers EV target five months early
Parcel delivery company DPD has smashed its 2020 target for electric vehicles (EVs) five months ahead of schedule.
It currently has more than 700 EVs – equivalent to more than 10% of its van fleet - which it claims makes it the “biggest, greenest delivery fleet” in the UK.
DPD has so far delivered nearly five million emissions-free parcels, saving more than two million kilograms of CO2 this year.
It expects to deliver more than 10 million parcels on its green fleet by the end of 2020, helping save more emissions over the next five months.
DPD CEO Dwain McDonald said: “DPD is making all the running on EVs. Despite everything that is going on, we’ve been really focused on getting EVs on the road and delivering for us this year. Yes, you need to be trialling new technology and looking at future concepts but you have to start making a difference now and that’s what we are doing.
“We originally targeted 500 EVs this year but with over 700, we have absolutely smashed it. The feedback from the depots, our drivers and our customers has been fantastic and that has just encouraged us to go faster. We know retail customers want this and the reaction on the doorstep is great when recipients see that their parcel has been delivered emission-free too. So, that is a great base for us to build on.”
However, he adds there are still “huge frustrations” because while the company would like more of its vehicles to be green, “we just can't get our hands on enough of them at the moment”.
Mr. McDonald said: “We are calling on the government and the vehicle manufacturers to do everything they can to encourage the development of more EVs at affordable prices so that progressive companies, like us, can become even greener, even quicker.”
Following the launch of the P1 electric-assist cargo bike last year, DPD is extending its partnership with Oxford-based manufacturer EAV to create another new vehicle.
It is also involved in trials with the London Electric Vehicle Company (LEVC) for the new VN5 and the Vauxhall e-Vivaro.
