Royal Mail has chosen Bristol to launch its first delivery office operating with an all-electric fleet of vehicles.
A total of 23 electric vans have replaced diesel model predecessors at the company’s Bristol East Central Delivery Office in Easton, in a bid to help reduce emissions.
The announcement comes as plans to introduce a clean air zone (CAZ) from October in the city’s centre, which could see drivers of polluting cars charged up to £9 a day to use it, are being considered by the government.
Royal Mail, which has more than 400 electric vehicles nationwide as well as 29 Bio-CNG fuelled gas trucks in its operation, has said it is currently looking to make similar changes to more of its depots in the coming months, particularly those in cities with existing or plans for CAZs.
The courier said its new electric vans have up to 60% more loading space than the vehicles they have replaced to give them capacity to deal with growing parcel volumes.
Six electric charging posts have also been installed on its site in Easton, with electricity for powering the office and for charging the vehicles drawn totally from renewable sources.
Royal Mail is the latest company to roll out electric delivery vans in Bristol, following organic veg box company Riverford.
Welcoming the announcement, mayor of Bristol Marvin Rees said: “It’s fantastic news that Royal Mail has chosen Bristol for its first ever all-electric delivery office.
“Their 23 electric vehicles will join Bristol’s 99 bio-gas buses already on our streets in reducing emissions and improving air quality.
“We want to support people and businesses in transitioning our fleet to cleaner and more efficient vehicles.
“The investment in these vehicles and their network supports the important work of distribution across Bristol, as well as contributing to our economy as we recover from the Covid pandemic.’’
Royal Mail’s chief executive Simon Thompson said it was “clear” that customers increasingly wanted fewer environmentally impacting deliveries.
Mr Thompson said: “We are delighted to transform Bristol East Central into the very first Royal Mail ‘all-electric’ Delivery Office.
“This is a really positive step and will help us assess the impact of these changes on both our customers and our people when compared to conventional delivery offices.”
Rob Wotherspoon, the Bristol and district branch secretary of the Communication Workers Union (CWU), of which many of Royal Mail’s 85,000 postmen and postwomen are members, added: "This is not just about the fight against climate change but about the air that our communities breathe.
“It's great to see Royal Mail leading the charge for clean air and zero carbon delivery in Bristol.”
Royal Mail recently reported a four-fold increase in its profits during the coronavirus pandemic, as national lockdowns led to a large rise in online shopping.
The formerly state-owned service saw pre-tax profits for the year to March jump to £726m from £180m a year earlier, with revenues up 16.6% to £12.6bn.
The company also revealed this month that it will trial the use of drones to deliver health and safety equipment, Covid testing kits and other items to the Isles of Scilly.
Royal Mail said that if successful, the technology will be considered to support postmen and postwomen in delivering to remote areas across the UK.
