Posties in the UK could soon be buzzing around some of the UK’s major cities on Micro Electric Vehicles, as Royal Mail announces that they will trial two types of Micro Electric Vehicles, for letter and small parcel deliveries. This comes as Royal Mail steps up their drive to further reduce emissions associated with its operations.
With the UK’s largest “Feet on the Street” network of over 85,000 postmen and women, Royal Mail already has the lowest reported CO2e emissions per parcel amongst major UK delivery companies. The Micro Electric Vehicles form part of Royal Mail’s programme of low or zero emission vehicle trials designed to make the UK’s lowest reported CO2e emissions per parcel delivery even lower.
Roughly the size of a golf buggy or a quad bike, the vehicles will be assessed in residential areas as a potential lower carbon alternative to larger vans, which are typically shared by two posties. The trial will assess whether giving two posties access to separate vehicles could provide greater flexibility on busy routes in a more environmentally friendly way.
Royal Mail’s Micro Electric Vehicles
The new Micro Electric Vehicles are designed to help postmen and women manage the growing number of parcels on the daily round in an environmentally friendly way.
With a load size of between 1.2m3 and 2.0m3, the vehicles can accommodate more than an average daily round’s worth of letters and small parcels. The vehicles are charged using a standard three-pin plug, making charging more flexible.
Once the trial period has ended, Royal Mail will make a decision on whether to roll out this category of vehicles more widely across its fleet as a complement to more conventional vehicles.
The Vehicle Specifications
The trial will assess two different models of Micro Electric Vehicles:
The Paxster Cargo
- Size: Small and compact, the Paxster Cargo is 2.4 m long and just over a metre wide.
- Cockpit: With a central seating position it has handlebar steering.
- Speed and battery range: With a top speed of 28 mph and a battery range of 88 miles, it is well suited for busy urban and suburban routes.
- Charge Time: It can charge in around 9 – 10 hours.
The Ligier Pulse 4
- Size: Slightly larger than the Paxster Cargo, the Ligier Pulse 4 is just over 3m long with a width of 1.8m.
- Cockpit: Negotiated by steering wheel, the vehicle is left hand drive to ensure additional safety on exiting the kerb for frequent deliveries.
- Speed and battery range: With a top speed of 28 mph and a battery range of 74 miles, it is also well suited for busy urban and suburban routes.
- Charge Time: It can charge in around 8 – 10 hours.
Where will Micro Electric Vehicles deliver the post?
Liveried in traditional Royal Mail red, the vehicles have been specially designed to help postmen and postwomen deliver letters and smaller parcels on the daily round in a secure and efficient way. The six-month trial will see a selection of vehicles operating in each of five locations across the UK: Edinburgh, Crewe, Liverpool, Swindon and London.
“It’s really exciting to see these micro electric vehicles making their way into our daily deliveries. At Royal Mail we’re committed to keep on reducing our environmental impact and we intend to leave no stone unturned in trialling new technologies and new ways of delivering to help us do that. As our fantastic posties make most deliveries on-foot, this already means we have the lowest reported CO2e per parcel of major UK delivery companies. From drones to electric vehicles, fuel efficient tyres to bio-CNG trucks, we’ll keep on innovating to reduce our environmental impact even further.”
– Simon Thompson, Chief Executive Officer, Royal Mail
