Royal Mail has signed an agreement with Peugeot to buy 100 Partner L2 Electric vans, to be used by postal workers on their delivery rounds.

The vans will be in service from December at delivery offices around the UK, supported by what the operator described as “a comprehensive rollout of charging infrastructure”.

Paul Gatti, Royal Mail fleet director, said: “Our research has shown that electric vans are a good operational fit with our business and we are delighted to be ordering such a large volume to use in our daily operations.

“This is good news for our customers and the towns and cities we serve. It also means we are on the front foot for future changes in emissions legislation.”

PSA Group fleet director Martin Gurney said: “The order was won after Royal Mail carried out extensive trials with the Partner Electric.

“It’s a tribute to their performance in the trials that Peugeot vans will soon be helping Royal Mail to reduce the environmental impact of its delivery fleet.”

The electric vans will be direct replacements for vehicles that have reached the end of their operational life.

Royal Mail is also investigating the use of electric vehicle technology for larger commercial vehicles to move mail within its network.

The move comes as the government set out plans to ban conventional diesel and petrol engines from 2040.

See Van Advisor for its First Drive of the Peugeot Partner.

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