An ambitious target was set for the DPD van fleet to be 10% zero emission by the end of the year. That would have meant increasing the 130 electric vehicles they had on the road at the start of 2020 to 500 but they’ve smashed their target and today announced they’ve incresed the DPD van fleet of zero emission electric vehicles to 700.
As a result, DPD now has the biggest, greenest delivery fleet in the UK having already delivered close to 5 million emissions free parcels in 2020, saving over 2 million kilograms of CO2. They estimate that, on its current zero emissions trajectory, it will deliver well over 10 million parcels on its clean, green fleet by the end of 2020.
And it doesn’t stop there, DPD’s biggest complaint is that they simply can’t get enough zero emission electric vehicles as they aren’t being manufactured fast enough! DPD are already working with a series of new and innovative suppliers to help develop the next generation of EVs. Following the launch of the P1 electric assist cargo bike last year, DPD is extending its partnership with Oxford-based manufacturer EAV to create another unique new vehicle. DPD is also involved in trials with LEVC for the new VN5 and the Vauxhall e-Vivaro.
There is definitely a desire by consumers for greener deliveries but about the only thing a retailer can’t currently offer is a green delivery alongside options for delivery in conventional vehicles. As a retailer what you do know however, is that if you use DPD theirs a significantly higher chance of delivery in a zero emission electric vehicles if you opt to use the DPD van fleet as your courier than if you’re using an alternative carrier.
“Despite everything that is going on, we’ve been really focused on getting EVs on the road and delivering for us this year. Yes, you need to be trialing new technology and looking at future concepts, but you have to start making a difference now, and that’s what we are doing.
We originally targeted 500 EVs this year, but with over 700, we have absolutely smashed it. The feedback from the depots, our drivers and our customers has been fantastic and that has just encouraged us to go faster. We know retail customers want this and the reaction on the doorstep is great when recipients see that their parcel has been delivered emission-free too. So, that is a great base for us to build on.
There are still huge frustrations. We are investing and expanding our operation because of Covid-19 and the enormous demand from online retailers. Parcel volumes are 50% up year on year and we are doing an amazing job. But we would like even more of our new vehicles to be green EVs – we just can’t get our hands on enough of them at the moment. We are calling on the government and the vehicle manufacturers to do everything they can to encourage the development of more EVs, at affordable prices, so that progressive companies, like us, can become even greener, even quicker.”
– Dwain McDonald, DPD, CEO
2 Responses
Shame the CEO of DPD still wishes to push through “Project Rise” during a pandemic & pushing out all small businesses from using DPD / DPD Local with 4 weeks notice.
Our UK Prices have trebled, even though the contract was renewed in April & international rates have increased 10 fold.
Luckily we have backup contracts with DHL Parcel UK & UPS.
Typical DPD courier driving in the middle of road 😉