DPD is continuing its transformation into the UK’s largest EV parcel delivery fleet with a new deal that will increase its electric fleet to 600 vans.

L-R: Thomas Hemmerich, Managing Director MAN Truck & Bus UK, with Dwain McDonald, DPD’s CEO

Days after revealing it’s started deploying the first of a 300-strong Nissan electric van order, DPD has now announced that it’s struck a deal with MAN Truck & Bus for the UK’s first 100 eTGE electric vans, due to debut at April’s Commercial Vehicle Show and to start rolling off production lines from June 2020.

The vehicles will be used for inner-city operations, making use of the 10.7m3 load capacity and 65-70 mile range. They also feature a 36kWh lithium-ion battery that can be fully charged at a charge point in just over five hours or rapid charged to 80% in 45 minutes.

The latest order fast-tracks DPD’s plans to become the most responsible and sustainable city centre delivery company and the leader in electric vehicles in the UK; plans that have also seen it open the UK’s first all-electric parcel depot in Westminster in October 2018 while in November last year it launched a purpose-built, bio-mechanical hybrid electric-assisted quadracycle called the EAV P1.

Dwain McDonald, DPD’s CEO – who has recently spoken out on the need for more vehicle manufacturers to make more righthand drive EVs available for the UK market – said: “The 3.5t van is absolutely core to our delivery and collection fleet strategy, so this is a big deal for us. It gives us huge efficiencies on the road in terms of route densities, but we’ve had to wait a long time for the first electric right-hand drive 3.5t vans.”

He added: “We are urging other manufacturers to bring forward right-hand drive electrics as we can take far more. It isn’t just us demanding them, our retail customers have responded very positively to our new EV fleet and they want to be telling their customers about their green deliveries too. We are designing new ways of working to incorporate these vehicles into our operation, so they are transforming our business as well as contributing to cleaner air and less congestion.”

Thomas Hemmerich, managing director MAN Truck & Bus UK, added: “We are thrilled to be leading the electric transformation of the UK 3.5t van market. With our eTGE van we are responding to the high customer demand and interest for these vehicles from the UK market.”