DPD buys 300 electric vans for zero emission deliveries

Logistics specialist DPD has placed an order for 300 electric vans in the UK, creating the country’s largest zero emission parcel delivery fleet.

The new vans, all Nissan e-NV200 models, will be operational by May, boosting the size of DPD’s electric fleet to 450 vehicles. The delivery firm aims to have 500 EVs by the end of this year, setting a target of electrifying 10% of its vehicles at every one of its 68 UK depots. In 2018, DPD opened the UK's first all-electric parcel depot in Westminster, London, and last year the company called on vehicle manufacturers to make more righthand drive EVs available for the UK market.

DPD has been operating 91 e-NV200 vans for the past 18 months, on daily routes of up to 100 miles (160km). The Nissan e-NV200 boasts 4.2m3 load space - enough for two Euro pallets - and has two sliding doors which makes it easier for drivers to access the cargo area.

Driver training

The company has trained its drivers to adapt to the demands of an electric vehicle and says they are positive about the quiet, relaxing drive.

Route planning and recharging

The vehicles will be recharged overnight at DPD depots, where the company will use its in-house route calculation and vehicle optimisation systems to decide where to deploy the EVs each day.

Dwain McDonald, DPD’s CEO, said: “These vehicles are changing the way we work. We are rethinking and re-engineering how we deliver parcels now and in the future with different route networks and new types of depots. It is an all-encompassing revolution for our industry and electric, emission-free vehicles are at the heart of that vision.”

Rising demand for e-vans

Peter McDonald, Fleet Director at Nissan Motor GB, said the manufacturer is seeing increased demand for the e-NV200 as more businesses look for an all-electric alternative.

“It’s exciting to see a company [DPD] built on delivering on time and to schedule proving that an electric vehicle can work for them, while also making such a large commitment to reducing their carbon footprint.”