Deutsche Post subsidiary StreetScooter and Ford-Werke have entered into a partnership to manufacture large electric delivery vehicles.
Deutsche Post DHL already produces the emission-free StreetScooter and now both partners are working on a larger vehicle type. The partnership is another step toward reducing emissions and creating new traffic solutions.
The chassis of the Ford Transit provides the technical basis for the e-van, which will be equipped with a battery-electric drivetrain and fitted with a special body construction based on Deutsche Post and DHL Paket specifications.
Production is scheduled to begin in July, with at least 2,500 vehicles supporting Deutsche Post’s urban delivery activities by the end of 2018, making this joint project the largest manufacturer of battery-electric medium-duty delivery vehicles in Europe.
Jürgen Gerdes, member of the executive board at Deutsche Post, said, “This step will relieve the inner cities and increase the people’s quality of life. We will continue working on completely carbon neutral logistics.”
Steven Armstrong, group vice president and president Europe, Middle East and Africa at Ford Motor Company, commented, “E-Mobility and innovative traffic solutions for urban areas are key focuses for us as we transform our business to meet future challenges.”
In addition to the new assembly line, the manufacture of current StreetScooter models will be significantly expanded. StreetScooter is planning to manufacture 20,000 units per year of its small electrical delivery van, in different versions in Aachen and North Rhine-Westphalia in Germany. Today, there are already 2,500 Deutsche Post StreetScooters in use across Germany.
June 15, 2017
By Felicity Butcher