DPD has announced the agreement of a deal with vehicle manufacturer MAXUS for 750 e DELIVER electric vans, which will double the firm’s total UK EV fleet. The deal, which includes 500 long wheelbase 3.5t electric vans and 250 of the smaller e DELIVER 3, means that DPD’s total EV UK fleet will be almost 1,500, with plans to extend that to over 1,700 EVs on the road by the end of the year.
DPD has reportedly purchased both the 72kw and longer range 88kw versions of the e DELIVER 9, giving the vans a greater range than anything previously available in the UK, according to the company. The 88kw version can cover over 200 miles on a single charge, stated DPD.
The MAXUS order is part of DPD’s strategy to be a responsible and sustainable city centre delivery company and becoming a leader in the move to electric vehicles in the UK. In May the firm announced the roll-out of a new air quality monitoring programme across 6 of the biggest cities in the UK. While in October 2020, DPD confirmed plans to deliver to 25 of the largest towns and cities in the UK entirely with zero and low-emission delivery means by 2025, as stated by the company.
DPD’s Head of CSR, Olly Craughan, commented, “We’re absolutely delighted with the MAXUS. The 3.5t van is the workhorse of any delivery and collection fleet, so to get our hands on an EV with this kind of capacity and range is a real game changer for us. We’ve got EVs in every DPD depot already, but they are largely focused on quite compact routes, usually in city centres, where range isn’t an issue. But this opens up the possibility of clean, green deliveries on a much larger scale. We know from our shippers that being able to offer their customers green deliveries is a huge plus point, while the feedback on the doorstep is similarly positive. Our aim is to deliver to 25 of the largest towns and cities in the UK entirely with zero and low-emission delivery means by 2025, and this order begins to make that a reality.”
Mark Barrett, General Manager of Harris MAXUS said, “At MAXUS we take pride in going the extra mile for our customers. From our aftersales and customer service, to our product offerings and the range our new platform EVs can achieve, MAXUS is a trusted leader in the EV sector. Importantly, we are equally committed to going the extra mile in the fight against climate change, which makes MAXUS the perfect partner for DPD, a brand that is serious about reducing its carbon footprint. In doing so, DPD is helping businesses and customers reduce theirs too. It’s a proud and happy moment for all the team at Harris MAXUS to see the DPD livery across our brand-new EV models, the e DELIVER 9 and e DELIVER 3, helping couriers across the country deliver packages in the most eco-friendly way possible.”
Source: DPDgroup
