DPD UK has confirmed it will add 300 new electric Nissan e-NV200 vans to its fleet by May 2020, in what is believed to be the largest single commercial EV van order to date in the country.
The order will take DPD's electric fleet to 450 vehicles in total, with plans in place to exceed the firm's stated target of 500 EVs by the end of the year, making it the largest EV parcel delivery fleet in the UK. DPD is aiming for 10% of its van fleet to be electric in each of its 68 UK depots by that point.
The Nissan e-NV200 can cover a WLTP-approved 124-187 miles on one charge and can be rapidly charged to 80% in around 60 minutes, or to full in less than eight hours with a wall box. The e-NV200 boasts 4.2 sqm load space and two sliding doors for easy access.
Over the last 18 months, DPD has been using the Nissan e-NV200 successfully. Feedback from drivers so far has been extremely positive, and the company has developed its own in-house training to help drivers adapt to electric vehicles, as part of a comprehensive vehicle handover programme.
DPD said the Nissan order is part of its strategy to be the most responsible and sustainable city centre delivery company and the leader in electric vehicles in the UK. In October 2018, DPD opened the UK's first all-electric parcel depot in Westminster.
While DPD is leading the industry on EVs, it has also been vocal about the barriers to more rapid adoption of the new technology. In a White Paper late last year, DPD called on vehicle manufacturers to make more righthand drive EVs available for the UK market.
DPD CEO Dwain McDonald 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. We are rethinking how we deliver parcels 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. Credit to Nissan who have stepped up and made affordable righthand drive vehicles available in significant numbers."
