Ford and Deutsche Post DHL unveil electric van

Vehicle manufacturer Ford and the Deutsche Post DHL Group have today (16 August) unveiled an electric delivery van in Cologne, Germany, for use on postal routes across the country.

The vehicle, which was developed jointly with Aachen-based electric vehicle specialist StreetScooter is the first of 150 to be built this year, with over 2,500 due to be in service by the end of 2018.

The StreetScooter WORK XL has a range of up to 200km

The vehicle, called the StreetScooter WORK XL, is based on a Ford Transit chassis fitted with a battery-electric drivetrain and a body designed and built to Deutsche Post DHL specifications.

According to Ford, the WORK XL will have a load volume of 20 cubic metres and provide stowage space for more than 200 parcels. The e-van is fitted with a modular battery system delivering 30 kWh to 90 kWh of power, giving it a range of between 80 km and 200 km.

If running on diesel fuel, each vehicle would use the equivalent of 1,900 litres of diesel fuel each year, the companies claim.

Fleet

Jürgen Gerdes, member of the board of management post, eCommerce & parcel, at Deutsche Post DHL Group, said: “The new StreetScooter WORK XL expands our e-fleet in the commercial vehicle segment. It is the perfect vehicle for parcel deliveries in major cities and large urban areas, and will enable us to cope with the rising parcel volumes in an even more environmentally friendly and quieter manner. With this commitment, we are also underlining our claim of being the market leader in green logistics.”

Steven Armstrong, group vice president and president, Europe, Middle East & Africa, Ford Motor Company, said: “We’re really proud of this ambitious project, and of the strong partnership we’ve developed with Deutsche Post DHL Group and StreetScooter.

“This joint project will be Europe’s largest manufacturer of emission-free, medium-sized e-vans, and it doesn’t come a moment too soon. Buses, cars, and of course, delivery vans play vital roles in our daily lives, but we have to find a way to make them cleaner. This project is a great step along this path.”

The launch of the vehicle represents the latest move from Ford towards electrification, with the company in the UK trialling 20 plug-in hybrid Transit vans for commercial users in London. The trial involves organisations such as Transport for London, Metropolitan Police, British Gas and Addison Lee (see airqualitynews.com story).