New Zealand Post has added five electric vans to their fleet, after qualifying for assistance by the Energy Efficiency and Conservation Authority’s (EECA) Low Emission Vehicles Contestable Fund.

New Zealand Post trials five electric vans

The five vans will at first be trialled to assess their suitability for use in the courier fleet. The vehicles will operate from various points around the country and allow courier drivers to see for themselves what driving electric is like, with the intention that the purchase or lease of their own electric van follows. The company is in the process of making a short list of electric vans that may be suitable for their needs.

Sam Bridgman, New Zealand Post’s Sustainability Specialist, said: “This initiative will help towards mainstreaming electric vans in our courier fleet. In addition to our other low carbon initiatives, these vehicles will help us develop new ways to reduce the carbon footprint of the mail we deliver.”

The New Zealand Post has a fleet of more than 1,000 vans and already operates the largest electric vehicle fleet in New Zealand, using the Norwegian-built 200kg payload Paxster, which has a range of between 24-60 miles (40-100 kilometres) and is available as both a hard or open top electric van.For more of the latest industry news click here.