Parcel delivery company DPD has agreed a deal with vehicle manufacturer MAN Truck & Bus UK for 100 eTGE electric vans.
The deal means that DPD will reportedly have the largest 3.5-tonne electric van fleet in the UK, taking its electric fleet to 600 vehicles in total.
Dwain McDonald, CEO, DPD, said: “The 3.5-tonne van is absolutely core to our delivery and collection fleet strategy, so this is a big deal for us.
“It gives us huge efficiencies on the road in terms of route densities, but we’ve had to wait a long time for the first electric right-hand drive 3.5-tonne vans.
“We’re really pleased to be partnering with MAN Truck & Bus on what is another UK EV first.”
DPD will take delivery of the first 100 eTGEs when they roll off the production line from June 2020.
MAN’s eTGE has a load capacity of 10.7m3 and a range of 65-70 miles.
A 36kW lithium-ion battery can be fully charged at a charge point in just over five hours or rapid charged to 80% in 45 minutes.
The MAN order is part of DPD’s strategy to become a more responsible and sustainable city centre delivery company and a leader in EVs in the UK.
In October 2018, the company opened the UK’s first all-electric parcel depot in Westminster and in November last year launched a unique, purpose-built, e-cargo bike.
In January 2020, DPD confirmed it was taking delivery of 300 new electric Nissan e-NV200 vans by May 2020, in what is believed to be the largest single UK commercial EV van order to date.
The Nissan and MAN orders will reportedly give DPD the largest EV parcel delivery fleet in the UK, with DPD aiming for 10% of its van fleet to be electric in each of its 68 UK depots by the end of this year.
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