Hermes Germany and Mercedes-Benz Vans are working on a strategic partnership to electrify the courier service’s vehicles fleet.
Hermes is to start using battery-electric vehicles in its normal operation as part of a pilot phase in Stuttgart and Hamburg in early 2018. By the end of 2020, Hermes Germany intends to deploy 1,500 Mercedes-Benz Vito and Sprinter electric vans in urban areas across Germany.
Frank Rausch, CEO of Hermes Germany, said, “Electric mobility plays a key role as part of our long-term strategy for climate and environmental protection. With this in mind, we are continuing along the path of sustainably renewing our fleet of vehicles.
“The strategic partnership with Mercedes-Benz is another milestone in this process. We are especially pleased to have Mercedes-Benz at our side as a prestigious partner since 1972. An important key aspect for the future is the gradual electrification of our fleet in urban areas. At the same time, we are continuing with the full changeover to low-emission Euro 6 vehicles.”
The focus will be on the economy, sustainability and practicality of emission-free delivery vans when used for the last mile. The push in these areas follows a rapid growth in online retailing and the resulting challenges for courier-express-parcel (CEP) companies.
Another aim is to implement ideas that improve the service quality for customers with the help of quiet, emission-free vehicles that will make a lasting contribution to optimizing urban delivery transport.
By 2025, Hermes plans to carry out deliveries in the inner-city areas of all major German cities completely free of emissions.
Volker Mornhinweg, head of Mercedes-Benz Vans, commented, “Electric drive is a key technology for urban transport especially in commercial use. Last-mile deliveries must become more efficient and, in specific applications, emission-free.
“Last year, we announced that we will put a Mercedes-Benz electric van into series production again; our first one was in 2011. We are proud that we can already announce that Hermes will be our first customer and with a significant number of vehicles at that.
“This is a specific implementation of our plans for tailored industry solutions in cooperation with our customers. Hermes requires mid-size and large vans with electric drive for its applications. We can meet both needs with high-quality, reliable and safe vehicles that set high standards also in terms of driver ergonomics.”
March 29, 2017