DHL has launched 14 new electric courier vans in the UK capital, marking the start of a national electric roll-out by the company. The Renault ZE Masters vans, which have a range of 75 miles, will operate out of DHL’s Docklands depot, where they will be charged overnight using on-site facilities to serve Central London.
Scott Laird, VP of operations at DHL Parcel remarked, “Bringing down emissions from commercial vehicles is crucial if we want to make a difference to air quality and the environment. The launch of these vehicles in London is an important step towards our target of zero logistics-related carbon emissions by 2050. Recent enhancements in battery life and load capacity have made the use of electric vehicles in urban areas a reality and we’re committed to extending the roll-out in other parts of the country.”
Charging facilities have been installed at a number of DHL Parcel depots in readiness for more electric vehicles, and DHL says all its plans for future depot upgrades and new builds feature charging facilities incorporated as standard.
Laird continued, “As electric technology continues to advance, we have every intention of investing in future models that can serve larger, more rural areas.”