Royal Mail has launched a new fleet of over 100 micro electric vehicles (MEVs), in a major step forward to both reduce carbon emissions and boost delivery speeds.
The first MEV, finished in Royal Mail’s iconic red livery, was unveiled at Saturday’s Lady Mayor’s Show in London. In the coming weeks, 104 MEVs will be rolled out in London, Bristol, Newcastle-under-Lyme, Solihull, Brighton and the Scilly Isles, just in time for the peak Christmas period.
Replacing 52 larger vans, the MEV fleet is expected to save around 242 tonnes of carbon emissions annually and improve local air quality, while also making delivery rounds more efficient. Thanks to their compact design, the MEVs are easier to drive and park in busy streets. Posties will also have their own MEV instead of sharing a van, streamlining route planning and speeding up deliveries.
Unlike standard electric vans, MEVs can be plugged into a regular three-pin plug socket for charging. As they do not need special EV charging infrastructure, they can be used at any delivery office, even sites that were previously ruled out due to limited yard space or electricity capacity.
Royal Mail initially trialled MEVs in 2021, but this is the first time they have been rolled out at scale. The company will use a combination of Paxster and Neomar D01 models in its fleet.
Our new micro electric vehicles are a smart solution for delivering more sustainably and efficiently, especially in busy urban areas. By replacing larger vans with MEVs, we’re cutting emissions, improving air quality, and helping our posties deliver faster in time for the festive season.
– Mark Riley, Delivery Design Manager (Process and Equipment), Royal Mail
In June, Royal Mail announced a strong reduction in its average carbon emissions per parcel delivered – already the lowest in the industry – by a fifth (20%) in the past year, strengthening its position as the UK’s greenest parcel operator*. The company has pledged to reach Net-Zero by 2040 as part of its ‘Steps to Zero’ environment strategy and has set interim targets to 2030.
In May, Royal Mail unveiled its 7,000th electric vehicle, strengthening its position as having the UK’s largest electric delivery fleet, and announced it would invest in 1,800 more electric vans and supporting charging infrastructure over the next year.
One Response
but, will it stop the postie from misdelivering the mail!
That’s what they need to invest in and cutting out RM 48/24 and delivery “AIMS”
All misleading terms leading to distorted customer expectations that we know are seriously floored.
Maybe some machinery that can avoid IPROLS without blaming the business. A machine that can read at speed with accuracy. Even that human that is the second line of defence who still applies the new label/barcode. Maybe it’s Postman Pat himself (or whatever he identifies as), OORRRRRRRRR possibly Jess the Cat (now that might make more sense).
It’s got to be the next biggest Royal Mail scam out there.