With more than 1 in 10 of its vans now electric, DPD has announced that it now has the largest electric vehicle delivery fleet in the UK.

The company says it has delivered more than five million zero-tailpipe-emissions parcels, saving more than 2 million kg of CO2. By the end of 2020 on current form, DPD expects to deliver more than 10 million parcels using its electric fleet this year.

DPD is working with manufacturers to create more electric delivery vans and bikes for the logistics sector. It is trialling the new LEVC VN5 and the Vauxhall e-Vivaro.

Dwain McDonald, DPD’s CEO commented: “Despite everything that is going on, we’ve been really focused on getting EVs on the road and delivering for us this year. Yes, you need to be trialing new technology and looking at future concepts, but you have to start making a difference now, and that’s what we are doing.

“We originally targeted 500 EVs this year, but with over 700, we have absolutely smashed it.  The feedback from the depots, our drivers and our customers has been fantastic and that has just encouraged us to go faster.  We know retail customers want this and the reaction on the doorstep is great when recipients see that their parcel has been delivered emission-free too. So, that is a great base for us to build on.

“There are still huge frustrations. We are investing and expanding our operation because of Covid-19 and the enormous demand from online retailers.  Parcel volumes are 50% up year on year and we are doing an amazing job.  But we would like even more of our new vehicles to be green EVs, we just can’t get our hands on enough of them at the moment.  We are calling on the government and the vehicle manufacturers to do everything they can to encourage the development of more EVs, at affordable prices, so that progressive companies, like us, can become even greener, even quicker.”