The government of Gibraltar has announced it will replace all of Royal Gibraltar Post Office vehicles with 13 electric vehicles, making the country the first in the world to have a fully electric postal delivery service.
The government has entered a seven-year lease agreement with Bassadone Motors and will pay £5,167 (US$6,898) per month for each vehicle over the seven years before either buying them at a lower price or replacing them with more advanced vehicles.
The all-electric postal vans are being rolled out this month and will deliver mail across all areas of Gibraltar. According to the government, “The electric vehicles will allow the postal service to deliver letters and parcels safely and efficiently in the most environmentally friendly way possible and help preserve the beauty of Gibraltar, both in terms of carbon emission and noise.”
Minister for postal services and transport Vijay Daryanani MP added, “I am pleased that we will be launching the first fleet of fully electric vehicles in Gibraltar and that the Royal Gibraltar Post Office will be the first public postal service in the world to have a fully electric fleet. These new electric vehicles will allow us to have our mail delivered pollution free. It will also help us reduce the emissions on a daily basis compared to normal petrol vehicles.
“I am excited to see these environmentally friendly vans on our roads in line with our commitment to provide a cleaner and greener Gibraltar. This is part of the government’s vision to improve the lives and air quality for all Gibraltarians. This is an excellent arrangement for the post office and the tax payer. Making these important changes to the way we move around the Rock is testament to government’s commitment in safeguarding the environment for future generations.
“The government has not had to pay for the vehicles upfront and this leasing arrangement will allow us to continue having the most up-to-date vehicles and to have them properly maintained and serviced. I am delighted to have delivered on this manifesto commitment.”