Charging hub installed to power Evri fleet

Evri has installed an electric vehicle (EV) charging hub at its sorting centre in Rugby, the first step in a larger programme which will see new EV chargers installed at its sites across the UK.

The installation of the 12 chargers by Blink Charging is part of Evri’s goal to reach net-zero by 2035.

Evri said it selected Blink for the Rugby site based on its reliable, scalable EV equipment and extensive fleet expertise.

The hub at Rugby is a 24-hour operation, with the chargers expected to be in use 60-80% of the time. Each charger has been strategically placed to be accessible to Evri’s hundreds of staff at the centre as well as to their fleet vehicles.

The Eve Single Pro line smart charging solution used at Rugby can offer 22kW of charge.

The purpose-built, automated parcel distribution hub in Rugby, is one of the biggest of its kind in the UK and can process more than one million parcels a day.

Installing Blink chargers is part of the company’s plans to improve its charging infrastructure and grow their existing low carbon fleet, which consists of 167 electric vans and growing fleet of e-cargo bikes.

Pauline Potter, director of procurement and sustainability at Evri, said: “We are committed to delivering a sustainable future.

“This partnership is an important step for Evri on our journey towards net-zero and we are delighted to be working with the team at Blink Charging UK to install EV charging for our Rugby-based vehicles.” 

Fleet News spoke to Evri’s head of fleet, David Landy, last year, on how it is working with a suite of options, including electric, biomethane gas and hydrotreated vegetable oil, for its multi-modal fleet of cars, vans, mid-size rigid trucks and tractor/trailer combos.

As the UK’s biggest dedicated parcel delivery company, delivering more 700 million packages a year, Evri has more than 8,000 employees, 26,000-plus couriers, in excess of 14,000 out of home locations and a growing network of hubs and depots.

MD of Blink Charging UK, Alex Calnan, says it is an exciting opportunity to work with Evri to accelerate the deployment of zero emission delivery services in the UK.

“Blink will leverage our turnkey offering covering design, install and management of a scalable charging network, delivering future ready networks to support Evri’s ambitious plans,” he added.

“It is a significant milestone as we help one of the UK’s biggest dedicated parcel delivery companies take one step closer to reaching their goal of net-zero ambitions.”

Blink Charging UK has more than 2,000 chargers in the UK and Ireland with customers in sectors including local authorities, NHS trusts, universities, and fleets.

The company plans to further expand its offerings in the UK and Ireland to include new commercial and home chargers, global network services and apps, and new fleet management tools.