Delivery firm Hermes has invested in more than 100 electric vans, following a successful trial at a London depot.
The parcel collection company tested two Mercedes-Benz eSprinters demonstrators, supplied by Intercountry Truck & Van, at its Enfield site and has now ordered 168 of the zero-emission vans.
Additionally, Hermes has commissioned Pod Point UK to install charging points at its network of depots. This work is underway, with the focus initially on London and other UK cities with low emission zones.
Currently, the company has a fleet of 450 diesel vans, which is supplemented by rental vehicles to help meet demand. The recent order with Intercountry also includes additional diesel vans to ‘tide it over’ during charging point installation.
The company intends to replace both existing and new diesel vehicles with EVs once charging infrastructure is installed, which could be before the end of the year.
David Landy, head of fleer at Hermes, said: “The transition to a zero-emission electric fleet is integral to our ESG (environment, social and governance) agenda, and we’ve been keen to take the next, major step forward towards this goal.
“However, we are under no illusions, this will not be an easy journey. From a purely operational standpoint, and given the current state of the technology, whichever way you look at it – whether in terms of range, payload or volume – a van with an internal combustion engine beats an electric one hands down.
“Only when it comes to tailpipe emissions does the battery-powered vehicle outshine the diesel. So we know there are constraints and compromises to make, and we recognise that this is going to put extra pressure and increased demands on those colleagues out in our depots who are doing a difficult job, day in, day out.”
The delivery firm already owns a fleet of 30 smaller EVs which operator from its East London depot. With the eSprinters intended for its ParcelShops service, operating at more than 5,000 convenience stores across the country.
Landy acknowledged that Hermes’ electric switch was still in its infancy, and that it would face fewer operational challenges as Mercedes-Benz Vans’ zero-emission product range evolved.
“This technology is moving so fast that the vehicle we’re about to start putting to work will not be the vehicles we’re still running in a year or two’s time,” he added.
“Not only does the agreement we’ve reached with Mercedes-Benz Vans mean we can swap out diesel vans for more battery-powered ones as our charging infrastructure programme progresses, but it also allows us to transition our first electric vans to new-generation versions that will cover greater distances and carry more as these become available.”
Hermes operates its own driving academy, whose instructors have already received eSprinter product familiarisation training from Intercounty.
