UK parcel carrier Hermes has made the move to electric by ordering 168 electric Mercedes Benz eSprinter vans.
The vans will deliver and pick up parcels from the Hermes ParcelShop service that operates out of more than 5,000 convenience and other shops nationwide.
At the same time, the carrier is installing Pod Point chargers at the depots that the vans will be operated from.
At the same time Hermes has ordered 132 diesel Mercedes Sprinter vans that will do home deliveries. While the electric vans are on longer lease plans direct with Mercedes, the diesel vans are on one year renewable leases while the charging points are installed at its depots, and will be replaced with electric vans once the infrastructure is in place and when longer range / higher payload electric vans become available.
Hermes, Head of Fleet David Landy confirmed: “The transition to a zero-emission electric fleet is integral to our ESG (environment, social and governance) agenda, and we’ve been keen to take the next, major step forward towards this goal.
“However, we are under no illusions… this will not be an easy journey. From a purely operational standpoint, and given the current state of the technology, whichever way you look at it – whether in terms of range, payload or volume – a van with an internal combustion engine beats an electric one hands down.
“Only when it comes to tailpipe emissions does the battery-powered vehicle outshine the diesel. So we know there are constraints and compromises to make, and we recognise that this is going to put extra pressure and increased demands on those colleagues out in our depots who are doing a difficult job, day in, day out.”