*750 Electric Vehicles to replace urban fleet by 2022 *Zero emission deliveries to be extended to Cork, Galway, Kilkenny, Limerick & Waterford by 2020
All An Post deliveries ‘between the Canals’ (Royal & Grand) will be zero emission by the end of this year, as part of the semi-State’s ‘Post Eco’ plan to eliminate carbon emissions by 2050.
Under the ground-breaking Post Eco Plan, An Post aims to deliver:
- Zero emission postal deliveries in Dublin City Centre by year-end 2019.
- Zero emission postal deliveries in Cork, Galway, Kilkenny, Limerick & Waterford by year end 2020.
- 750 Electric Vehicles (delivery vans & cycles) to replace urban fleet by 2022, 200 of which will be on the streets this year.
- A number of trials – including public charging points for electric vehicles outside post offices as well as installing solar panels on its buildings and sharing the financial benefits with local community-based environmental initiatives.
- Eco-Driving training for all drivers to ensure best practise driving in all vehicles and for all road and weather conditions.
Altogether, initiatives being introduced in 2019 will save 1,000 tonnes of carbon annually.
Announcing the Plan, The Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment, Richard Bruton T.D. said: “We must step up Ireland’s response to climate disruption. It is vital that every aspect of our society seek ways to reduce their carbon impact and the public service and our semi-State bodies must be the first to show that it takes policies for sustainability seriously, if we are to persuade the rest of society to make the step changes which we need to make. The announcement shows that An Post is taking the lead and recognising the urgency of taking action in adapting to the changes that are needed. By placing sustainability at the core of their business strategy, they are leading by example.”
An Post CEO, David McRedmond added: “As An Post moves from the old world of mail to the new world of e-commerce, sustainability has to be the guiding principle for the business. An Post is transforming for generations to come: as a major employer with a huge fleet footprint, this demands responsible climate action with this commitment to carbon-free delivery.”
Minister Bruton and Mr. Redmond launched the Plan in the Houses of the Oireachtas. For their part, the Houses of the Oireachtas are fully committed to its own sustainability initiatives, and with this in mind two charging points have already been installed to date with further points to be rolled out in the very near future. These measures mean that An Post electric delivery vans can charge up at Leinster House.
At the announcement and following the major fleet deal with An Post a few years ago, with almost 300 LDV vans successfully tendered by the Harris Group, the importers and distributors of the Chinese light commercial vehicle range has now supplied the first electric LDV EV80 into the national postal service provider.
Not only is the vehicle unique to the semi-States large fleet of commercials, it sports the company’s new look livery and corporate identity which sees the return of the An Post brand name in full and the franking emblem discontinued. A different shade of green as the prominent colour on the vehicles is now used.
The 3.5 tonne GVW LDV EV80 can reach near to 200 km range distance in a single charge and will fast charge to 80% capacity in 90 minutes. This electric van will undergo continuous evaluation during the first months of operation with a view of acquiring additional versions in due course.