DPD partners with London EV Company to trial "revolutionary" VN5 electric van

DPD is to trial a specially adapted 2.5-tonne electric van as it pushes forwards with its ambition of having “the greenest fleet in the UK”.

The courier firm has partnered with the London EV Company (LEVC) for road trials of its VN5 electric van.

The vehicle will be available in the UK later this year and offers a fully electric powertrain with a pure EV range of 63 miles and a total flexible range of over 300 miles.

DPD said it was already on track to have over 600 electric vehicles by the end of 2020, which equates to 10% of its fleet.

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The company has also created a new model for sustainable urban parcel deliveries with a network of all-electric ‘micro-depots’, the first of which opened in Westminster in 2018.

Dwain McDonald, DPD chief executive said: “We’ve developed a great model for large urban centres and EVs are working well out of our regional depots on many routes.

“But, inevitably, we have a number of routes where we have to drive a significant number of stem miles from the depot just to get to the first delivery address.

“At the moment, the limited range on pure EVs means we can’t move away from diesel vans for these routes.”

Joerg Hofmann, LEVC chief executive, said the VN5 will “revolutionise” green logistics: “These real-world tests mark a milestone occasion in the history of LEVC, as the company continues its transformation from an iconic British taxi brand to a leading electric vehicle manufacturer,” he added.