Australia Post has announced plans to ramp up its national fleet modernisation with the rollout of 500 new electric delivery vehicles.
Australia’s postal service said the rollout of the new Rapide 3 marks “a significant upgrade” to its delivery operations, improving safety performance, handling, productivity and speed.
The three-wheeled electric delivery vehicles can each carry up to 150 parcels, a 400% increase over the outgoing Honda motorbike.
Engineered with an integrated canopy and windshield, the Rapide 3 can reach speeds of up to 80 km/h and cover up to 180km on a single charge. The vehicle can also tackle more challenging terrain than motorbikes.
“This rollout is part of a broader transformation as we build the Australia Post of the future, one that is safer, more sustainable and ready to meet the changing needs of our customers,” said Paul Graham, Australia Post group chief executive officer and managing director.
“We’ve been investing in electric delivery vehicles for over a decade, and we’re proud to operate Australia’s largest electric delivery vehicle fleet,” he added.
According to Australia Post, the latest rollout will be supported by purpose-built charging infrastructure at more than 37 sites nationwide, with on-site recharging available at the end of each delivery round.
All 500 Rapide 3 vehicles are expected to be deployed across the network to support the upcoming peak period. Training is already underway to assist Posties with the transition.
