Royal Mail has introduced more than 100 compact electric vehicles across multiple UK cities, marking a significant milestone in its commitment to achieve carbon neutrality by 2040.
The new micro electric vehicle (MEV) program will eliminate the need for 52 conventional delivery vans, preventing approximately 242 tonnes of annual CO2 emissions while enhancing air quality in urban areas.
The inaugural vehicle, painted in Royal Mail’s signature red, made its debut at the weekend’s Lord Mayor’s Show in London. Throughout the coming weeks, 104 MEVs will begin operations across London, Bristol, Newcastle-under-Lyme, Solihull, Brighton and the Isles of Scilly – arriving just ahead of the busy holiday delivery season.
Beyond environmental benefits, the compact vehicles offer operational advantages. Their smaller size makes navigation and parking simpler on congested urban streets, while postal workers will now operate individual vehicles rather than sharing larger vans, enabling more streamlined route organisation and quicker service.
A key advantage of these micro vehicles is their charging simplicity – they can use standard household electrical outlets, eliminating the need for specialized charging stations. This flexibility allows deployment at any delivery facility, including locations previously unsuitable due to space constraints or electrical limitations.
While Royal Mail conducted initial MEV testing in 2021, this represents the organisation’s first large-scale implementation. The fleet will include vehicles from both Paxster and Neomar
In May, Royal Mail unveiled its 7,000th electric vehicle, strengthening its position as having the UK’s largest electric delivery fleet, and announced it would invest in 1,800 more electric vans and supporting charging infrastructure over the next year.
Mark Riley, Delivery Design Manager (Process and Equipment) at Royal Mail, said: “Our new micro electric vehicles are a smart solution for delivering more sustainably and efficiently, especially in busy urban areas. By replacing larger vans with MEVs, we’re cutting emissions, improving air quality, and helping our posties deliver faster in time for the festive season.”
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