DPD Ireland is to invest a further €2m (US$2.4m) decarbonizing its vehicle fleet, with the addition of 100 new electric vehicles by the end of next year. It has already deployed 30 new electric vans in 2021 and is on track to deliver its one millionth parcel using electric power in the next 18 months.
Having implemented Ireland’s first electric depot in Dublin in 2019, the company delivered 80,000 zero-emissions parcels in the capital last year and plans to have 250 electric vehicles on Irish roads by 2025.
According to DPD Ireland’s sustainability program manager, James Atkinson, the fleet decarbonization program will also involve route optimization and the addition of compressed natural gas-powered trucks to the fleet, as well as electric vehicles. This year the company will install EV charging points at 10 depots north and south of the border, as part of plans to electrify 250 short and mid-range routes. “We are on a journey of fleet electrification to reduce CO2 per parcel by 30% by 2025 and be a leader in the world of sustainable e-commerce,” said Atkinson.
The investment in new electric vehicles is part of a €200m (US$240m) commitment by parent company DPDGroup. It aims to deploy 7,700 new low-emission vehicles in 225 of the largest European cities by 2025, as urban transportation of goods is responsible for up to 30% of CO2 emissions in European cities. Atkinson also noted the company is improving the efficiency of its buildings and has set a target to source 100% renewable energy at all its Irish depots by 2023.