DPD is expanding its fleet of electric vehicles (EVs) to more than 2,500, with the purchase of 1,000 Ford E-Transits.
The new vans will operate from depots across the UK, with the first examples arriving in May.
DPD has opted for the 3.5-tonne long wheelbase E-Transit, with 12.4 cubic metres of load space.
Olly Craughan, head of sustainability at DPDgroup UK, said: "Getting our hands on the electric Ford Transit feels like a really big moment. 3.5t vans are the workhorse of any delivery fleet, and we are no different.
“We've said all along that we need the main commercial van manufacturers to step-up with affordable models and largescale production of right-hand drive vans to really get the EV revolution going in the UK. And Ford have done just that. The E-Transit is well priced, has a good range and comes with all the support you would expect from Ford.”
Prices for the E-Transit start from £47,700 (ex VAT) and the van is available in 25 variants.
It can satisfy a wide range of customer use-cases, with a 68kWh usable battery capacity as standard, providing a range of up to 197 miles (WLTP).
The Ford E-Transit order is part of DPD's pledge to be ‘the greenest delivery company on the planet'. In addition to running a fleet of 2,500 electric vehicles in the UK, DPD has also invested in a series of recycling and circular economy initiatives that resulted in the company being named Sustainable Business of the Year at the Business Champion Awards in London, recently.
Craughan added: "People really appreciate what we are doing with electric vehicles and all our other green initiatives. It is the same with our big retail customers too. They want to see their parcels delivered on green DPD vans, because they know their customers really appreciate it too. This order is a big step forward in terms of electrifying our whole fleet and becoming the greenest delivery company on the planet."
> Interested in comparing electric vehicle data? Check out our EV tool.
> Interested in ensuring the efficient use of EVs. Check out our dedicated editorial sections: Insight & policy | EV news | Charging & infrastructure | Costs & incentives | Benefit-in-kind | EV case studies | EV road tests
More articles on:
The Fleet News' guide Leadership in fleet is a comprehensive guide on the skills and knowledge you need to become an outstanding fleet leader.
We look at the areas in our sector having the greatest effect on the way fleets operate, offering advice and insight to give fleet decision-makers the confidence to make right decisions and form the best strategies.
Read now
Matt has been an automotive journalist for eight years. As senior staff writer he is responsible for the automotive content on Fleet News and also contributes to Automotive Management. Prior to this, Matt worked in the automotive industry for 10 years.
Login to comment
Comments
No comments have been made yet.