Royal Mail has deployed its 6,000th electric vehicle (EV), maintaining its position as the operator of the UK’s largest electric delivery fleet.
The vehicle has been introduced at Manchester Mail Centre, where it joins 15 other electric vans used for deliveries and collections.
Since introducing its first 100 electric vehicles in 2017, Royal Mail has expanded its EV fleet to more than 240 delivery offices across the UK.
The vehicles are charged on-site using a purchased 100% renewable electricity supply, ensuring they are zero-emission.
In July 2024, the company announced plans to increase its electric fleet by 2,100 vehicles over the following year as part of its annual vehicle replacement plan.
This would bring the total to 7,100 EVs, with an expected annual reduction in carbon emissions of approximately 6,000 tonnes.
EVs are a central component of Royal Mail’s strategy to reduce emissions from its operations and achieve Net-Zero carbon emissions by 2040.
The company has also adopted hydrotreated vegetable oil (HVO), a renewable diesel alternative, for use in many of its heavy goods vehicles.
According to Royal Mail, HVO can reduce direct carbon emissions by up to 90% compared to conventional diesel.
Royal Mail’s ‘Steps to Zero’ environmental strategy includes a target to halve its Scope 1 and 2 emissions by 2030, having already achieved an 18% reduction over the past four years.
The company also reports the lowest carbon emissions per parcel among UK delivery companies.
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