DPD has entered into an agreement with Nissan Motor GB for the purchase of 300 e-NV200 electric vans, thereby significantly increasing its current electric vehicle count to 450 by May.
DPD aims to have 10% of the vehicles in each of its 68 UK depots be electric by the end of the year, as part of its mission to become the most responsible and sustainable city centre delivery company and the leader in EVs in the UK. The majority of DPD’s fleet is already comprised of Nissan e-NV200s, with 91 having delivered packages successfully over the last 18 months.
The new EVs will be distributed to DPD depots nationwide in the coming weeks and will be utilized for local, multi-drop deliveries, covering up to 100 miles per day. Driver feedback has been positive due to the quiet and comfortable ride, and the company has also provided comprehensive vehicle handover sessions to train its employees on how to operate an electric vehicle.
DPD intends to charge the vehicles overnight at its depots and will employ its in-house route calculation and vehicle optimization systems to determine where to deploy the EVs each day.
The Nissan e-NV200 can cover a WLTP-approved 124-187 miles on one charge (combined/city cycle) and can be rapid charged to 80% in around 60 minutes or to full in less than eight hours with a wall box. The e-NV200 also makes a great solution for delivery fleets because of its 4.2m3 load space – enough for two Euro Pallets – and two sliding doors for easy access.
Dwain McDonald, DPD’s CEO, commented: “This is a real landmark day in the move to a more sustainable future for the parcel industry. These vehicles are changing the way we work. It isn’t just a case of plugging them in and saying, ‘job done’.
“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.”
Peter McDonald, Fleet Director at Nissan Motor GB, said: “It’s exciting to see a company 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. We’re seeing increased demand for the e-NV200 as more businesses look for an all-electric alternative. Nissan is able to deliver a fantastic product for them and fast.”
The e-NV200 range starts from £20,005 (including Government Grant) for the entry-level Visia model to £22,665 for the top specification Tekna.
