DPD UK is calling on vehicle manufacturers, energy providers and national and local government to start working together to reduce emissions and congestion for the benefit of current and future generations.
The company’s CEO, Dwain McDonald, has launched a new, "hard-hitting White Paper” from the parcel delivery giant consisting of an eight-point plan to radically accelerate the pace of change.
This includes manufacturers making more right-hand drive Electric Vehicles (EVs) available in the UK, consistency across clean air, ULEV [Ultra Low Emission Vehicles], and zero emission zone standards. Additionally, the White Paper calls for new regulation to ensure the safe and responsible operation of e-Cargo bikes.
DPD also announced that it has significantly scaled up its own EV investment programme and will grow its current fleet of 139 vehicles to 500 by the end of 2020.
However, McDonald underlines that there are still major barriers holding back more widespread EV adoption and investment.
In the White Paper, entitled 'Delivering a Zero-Emission Future,' McDonald shares the lessons learned to-date from DPD's innovative approach and the challenges faced, as well as offering his own thoughts on the future.
He commented: "DPD is determined to contribute to a greener future for the UK through the widespread deployment of electric vehicles. Our vision is to be the nation's cleanest, quietest and safest emissions-free parcel delivery company. We call on manufacturers plus local and national government to partner with us to help make this vision a reality.”
The DPD boss explained that the decarbonisation of transport fleets is challenging, both operationally and financially, adding that DPD has already made large financial commitments to purchase commercial electric vehicles and change operating models to help reduce emissions and congestion.
“But it isn't happening fast enough, so we need to remove the barriers that are slowing the pace of change. We want to invest but we can't get the vehicles we need fast enough, while warehousing and distribution space is being pushed out of our city centres and there is limited financial support for new and innovation green vehicles.
"We cannot do this alone. We need stakeholders from across a range of industries to work together in a holistic way to create an infrastructure that makes large scale EV deployment feasible.”
McDonald concluded: "Change is difficult and demanding, but emerging new technologies give the current generation of leaders and decision-makers the tools to lead a large-scale cultural change – we cannot kick this problem any further down the road."
