DPD Ireland to deliver with electric vehicles
The Irish brand of logistics operator DPD will invest 3.2 million euros in electrifying its fleet of vehicles. DPD Ireland launched the so-called ElectriCity roll-out in Dublin and says it will spread to other urban locations across Ireland over the next three years – if EV supply allows.
DPD Ireland CEO Des Travers said that “it is our intention to have electric vehicles stationed in all of our depots in three years.” The 3.2 million euro start investment will create 150 jobs over the next twelve months with 30 of these being directly connected to the ElectriCity initiative.
For now, DPD will use the new electric vehicles only in Dublin, thus electrifying 15 parcel routes, according to Traver. The first ten EVs have arrived and are on the road already, and the executive added that “another 15 have been ordered but the problem is supply and getting them into the country”. However, DPD Ireland wants to station electric vehicles at all of its 34 depots in the country over the next three years.
The €3.2m investment for ElectriCity will include purchasing the EVs, hiring personnel, employee training, acquiring the depots and refurbishment.
For DPD it is not the first such project. The logistics company is also working to electrify its entire fleet in the German town of Hamburg this summer reportedly. Also in Berlin and Cologne, you can find some DPD EVs, e-trikes in this case.
In Ireland, the national postal service An Post recently launched a new e-mobility strategy as well and says it plans to purchase 750 electric vehicles by 2022, of which 200 will be on the roads this year. All deliveries in central Dublin are to be a 100% electric by the end of 2019 with other urban areas of Ireland to follow suit.
On the national level, the Irish government has published its development plan ‘Project Ireland 2040’ which outlines the country’s move to a low carbon economy worth 116 billion euros. With regards to transport, the aim is to have half a million electric vehicles on Irish roads by 2030.
0 Comments