Royal Mail strikes electric fleet deal with Peugeot

Royal Mail has struck a deal with Peugeot to supply 2,100 electric vans, including 1,100 British-built E-Partners.

The manufacturer is also supplying 1,000 fully electric E-Expert vans as part of the deal.

Peugeot has supplied Royal Mail with vehicles since 2009, and electric vans since 2014, when it delivered the first E-Partner to Royal Mail.

Royal Mail has already introduced 5,000 electric vans as part of the decarbonisation of its fleet and was named Environmental Fleet of the Year at this year's Fleet News Awards. 

The new electric vans, the first of which will be deployed this week, are the first of Royal Mail’s electric vehicles to bear the cypher of King Charles III.

Greg Sage, Royal Mail’s deputy director for corporate affairs and ESG, said: “We’re proud that our latest tranche of electric vehicles has been produced at Peugeot’s Ellesmere Port plant.

“This is an important part of our work to expand the UK’s largest electric delivery fleet and to remain the UK’s greenest delivery company.”

The new E-Partner features an updated design, new technologies, and an increased all-electric range of up to 213 miles (WLTP).

It is powered by an electric motor producing 136hp and 270Nm of torque along with a 50kWh battery.

To optimise range, the new E-Partner features a regenerative braking system that can be activated at three different levels using steering wheel paddles.

The underfloor installation of the batteries ensures no compromise in load volume, with a useful volume of up to 4.4m3, while the payload of 780kg and towable weight of 750kg are benchmarks in the segment.

Eurig Druce, group managing director of Stellantis UK and managing director of Peugeot UK, said: “Peugeot is proud to continue supplying electric vans to Royal Mail, a partnership that has been ongoing since 2009, which is testament to the quality and reliability of our vehicles.

“Peugeot is equally committed to the electric transition, with the widest all-electric vehicle line-up of any mainstream European brand, while our leadership in electric van sales is proof of our technology and innovation in this market.”

Royal Mail, which first announced it was expanding its electric fleet in July, says that the new vehicles will reduce total emissions by around 6,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent per year when fully operational. 

The new electric vehicles (EVs) will be charged on-site at Royal Mail’s delivery offices via the company’s 100% renewable electricity supply.

Royal Mail plans to deploy more than half of its new electric fleet in time for the Christmas ‘peak period’ to provide excellent service and greener deliveries to customers during the busiest time of the year.

The electrification of vans is an important part of Royal Mail’s strategy to lower carbon emissions from its vehicles.

Royal Mail has also introduced hydrotreated vegetable oil (HVO) to fuel many of its heavy goods vehicle fleet, which is a renewable alternative to diesel that produces up to 90 per cent less direct carbon emissions compared to diesel.

The fuel was introduced in June 2023 and has already saved more than 30,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent.