The logistics company said the van had proved it could cover a typical duty cycle, completing 45 deliveries and 25 collections on a simulated route around Rome. It covered 75 miles, which is well comfortably within the range of one battery charge.

DHL said it will begin the roll-out with vehicles being deployed in Milan and Rome, with Florence, Verona, Bologna, Naples, Salerno, Bari and Catania due to get them afterwards. They join a fleet of over 10,500 alternative fuel vehicles in use all over the world, including a range of electric cars and vans.

Alberto Nobis, Managing Director of DHL Express Italia said: ‘Use of these innovative zero-impact vans is another part of the global GoGreen programme designed by Deutsche Post DHL to lower the Group's worldwide CO2 emissions by 30% by 2020.

‘Moreover, the Nissan vehicles us to implement a sustainable City Logistics strategy, as they are also particularly well suited to making deliveries in historic centres.’