Parcel delivery company Evri is rolling out electric cargo bikes across its fleet.
As part of what Evri estimates is a £19 million sustainability-focused investment, the courier is looking to grow its fleet of e-cargo bikes from 33 to 99 within the next year. Additionally, it plans to expand the number of electric vehicles (EVs) it uses from 168 to 270 in that time period.
Evri said it wants to swell its fleet of electric cargo bikes to 3,000 over the next decade, as it sets about reducing carbon emissions across its network which is linked to its target to become a net-zero company by 2035. Each electric cargo bike can deliver around 110 parcels in one go, it added.
To help it move in the right direction from a sustainability perspective, Evri has established what it is calling a ‘final-mile electrification taskforce’ which will look to find innovations and relevant partnerships, while implementing strategies to take out carbon from its operations.
Evri’s electric cargo bikes are already operating in London, Bristol, Oxford and Cambridge – and the company said it currently delivers 1.5 million parcels a year by bike or EV. The aim is to triple that number to around four million over the next 12 months.
Martijn De Lange, CEO at Evri, commented: “Pedal power will rev up our efforts to reimagine parcel deliveries in the UK as we aim to become the biggest operator of e-cargo bikes in the sector.
“We achieved a 9% decrease in carbon emissions since last year. The £19 million investment announced today will lay the groundwork for Evri to dial up on its ambition to become the UK’s most sustainable parcel carrier.”
Evri said it is making moves to replace diesel vehicles used on its ParcelShop, and small to medium enterprise collection routes.
Some 148 additional EVs will be part of the fleet before Evri’s busy Christmas period this year, and a further 122 will join in spring 2025, meaning electric vans will account for more than half of its ParcelShop drop-offs and collections. To support this, Evri said it will continue expansion of its own charging infrastructure and will invest £1 million-plus in this across its depot network and hubs.
Read more about electric vehicles in retail on Green Retail World
[image credit: Evri]
