Royal Mail has taken delivery of its 8,000th electric van, joining 48 others already in use at its Nottingham North Delivery Office.
Local MP Michael Payne unveiled the latest zero-emission iconic red vehicle as the postal service went into action at its busiest time of year.
Nottingham North Delivery Office has recruited 14 additional seasonal staff and hired nine temporary vehicles to ensure cards and parcels reach customers in time for Christmas.
Almost a quarter of its delivery offices now rely on electric vehicles for deliveries and collections.
Stuart Murphy, Royal Mail’s head of fleet transformation, said: “Reaching 8,000 electric vehicles is a proud moment for Royal Mail.
“This achievement reflects our commitment to reducing emissions and delivering an even more sustainable postal service in every community across the UK.”
Gedling MP Payne added: “It was fantastic to have the opportunity to personally thank the hard-working local Royal Mail staff here in Gedling, who do a brilliant job not only at Christmas but all year round.
“I was honoured to be able to unveil the 8,000th electric vehicle in their fleet and I was very pleased to get the chance to sit behind the wheel myself.”
In June, Royal Mail announced a strong reduction in its average carbon emissions per parcel delivered – already the lowest in the industry – by 20% in the past year, strengthening its position as the UK’s greenest parcel operator.
The company has pledged to reach Net-Zero by 2040.
