Hermes has ordered 168 fully electric Mercedes-Benz eSprinters, underscoring its commitment to going emissions-free.

The fully electric eSprinter vans, which have an official 95-mile range, will go live before the end of the year and will be used for Hermes’ ParcelShops parcel collection service

The zero-emission vans, which have an official 95-mile range, will go live before the end of the year and will be used for the firm’s ParcelShops parcel collection service – Hermes plans to undertake all ParcelShop collections with electric vehicles as soon as possible.

It marks the company’s first substantial investment in battery-powered vans and follows successful trials of a pair of eSprinter demonstrators at a depot in Enfield, north London. To support its new vans, Hermes has also commissioned Pod Point UK to install charging points at its network of depots.

The vehicle order, made through Mercedes dealer Intercounty Truck & Van, also includes 132 diesel-engined Sprinter 315 CDI vans to ‘tide it over’. As such, these will only be on one-year contract hire deals with Athlon UK, owned by Mercedes-Benz parent Daimler AG.

Hermes head of fleet David Landy said: “The transition to a zero-emission electric fleet is integral to our ESG (environment, social and governance) agenda, and we’ve been keen to take the next, major step forward towards this goal.

“However, we are under no illusions… this will not be an easy journey. From a purely operational standpoint, and given the current state of the technology, whichever way you look at it – whether in terms of range, payload or volume – a van with an internal combustion engine beats an electric one hands down.

“Only when it comes to tailpipe emissions does the battery-powered vehicle outshine the diesel. So we know there are constraints and compromises to make, and we recognise that this is going to put extra pressure and increased demands on those colleagues out in our depots who are doing a difficult job, day in, day out.”

Hermes chose Mercedes-Benz Vans for its reputation and commitments, as well as the customer service from Intercounty Truck & Van and the commercial vehicle focus of the wider Mercedes-Benz Vans Dealer network.

“It’s reassuring to know that we’re starting out on this journey with the backing of the right people, a global manufacturer that will help us to overcome operational hurdles as they arise, and dealers who appreciate the importance of restricting vehicle downtime to an absolute minimum,” said Landy.

He added that Hermes would face fewer operational challenges as Mercedes-Benz Vans’ zero-emission product range evolved. “This technology is moving so fast that the vehicle we’re about to start putting to work will not be the vehicle we’re still running in a year or two’s time,” he said.

And while the vehicles will be recharged overnight, James Holmes, regional fleet sales manager at the dealer, is also using Hermes’ ParcelShop routing data to plot additional points at which they can be recharged.

Landy added: “I like the fact that Mercedes-Benz Vans and Intercounty Truck & Van have come to us with a forward-thinking proposition that is entirely realistic about what this transition is going to entail. It’s not going to be easy, but we’re confident that we have the right partner to help us achieve our sustainability goal.”