Royal Mail has rolled out a fleet of eight electric heavy goods vehicles (eHGVs) at its parcel hubs in Daventry and Warrington.
The postal service described the launch as “a major step forward” in reducing the Royal Mail’s carbon emissions and its goal to achieve net zero by 2040.
The eight DAF 42-tonne XD 350E eHGVs will operate around the clock, handling ‘middle-mile’ deliveries between parcel hubs and mail centres.
Royal Mail has installed high-speed chargers at its two parcel hubs, supported by its membership of Electric Freightway consortium. The ABB T360 chargers can add up to 60 miles of range in less than 15 minutes.
The new eHGV fleet is expected to reduce carbon emissions by 100,000 tonnes annually. Additionally, the Royal Mail says that moving to electric vehicles will lower its operational costs.
“Introducing electric HGVs into our network is a major milestone in decarbonising our operations and achieving our Net-Zero target,” stated Nick Dunn, Royal Mail’s national distribution and fleet director.
“This is an important first step in learning how we can efficiently integrate eHGVs into our operations across the country. We’re combining cutting-edge vehicle technology with high-speed charging infrastructure, made possible by Electric Freightway, which will transform how we deliver across long distances.”
Led by Gridserve, the Electric Freightway project is a £100 million collaboration bringing together more than 30 companies to deliver the UK’s most advanced public charging networks for eHGVs. The project aims to install with more than 200 chargers capable of up to 350kW and supporting over 140 electric trucks nationwide.
“We are pleased to see Royal Mail join other Gridserve Electric Freightway consortium members in developing a strong network of eHGV charging depots,” said Sam Clarke, commercial lead at Gridserve. “These sites at the Midlands and North West Parcel Hubs strengthen charging in both regions as well as reduce carbon emissions by supporting the replacement of diesel trucks with eHGVs.”
This summer, Wincaton (now part of GXO), announced it was adding 24 new eHGVs to its fleet in 2025.
