Swiss Post and Austrian Post have announced their commitment to electrifying their delivery fleets by joining the global electric vehicles initiative EV100, which aims to make electric transport ‘the new normal’ by 2030.
EV100 is led by The Climate Group, the international non-profit focused on accelerating climate action. Other new members are Portugal’s EDP and New Zealand’s Meridian Energy.
Together, the four companies will switch 22,000 fossil-fuel vehicles to electric. With two out of three new cars in Europe being sold to the private sector, business commitments to electric vehicles send a clear signal of demand for EVs to auto makers.
The news comes as the global auto industry gathers at the Geneva International Motor Show, where brands like Honda, Mercedes-Benz, Volkswagen and Kia are set to exhibit new electric vehicles – but combustion engine models continue to dominate.
Helen Clarkson, CEO, The Climate Group, said, “Today’s EV100 announcements show demand for electric vehicles is on the up. With logistics companies operating some of the world’s biggest delivery fleets, these businesses are well placed to accelerate the switch to electric vehicles, tackle climate change and reduce air pollution in cities.
“The EV transition is well underway. To stay competitive, all major companies should start transitioning their fleets now, and auto makers must get on with increasing supply – or else risk losing out on this huge opportunity.”
As the need to tackle climate change becomes ever more urgent and many cities look to address air pollution by introducing low- or zero-emission zones limiting access of polluting vehicles, companies are switching to electric vehicles to lower business risk and future-proof their operations.
Austrian Post is the largest logistics business in Austria. The company already operates the largest electric vehicle fleet in the country and will switch more than 9,000 vehicles to electric as part of EV100. Committing to go fully electric through EV100 will drive innovation and ensure long-term competitive advantage for the business.
Georg Pölzl, CEO, Austrian Post, commented, “Austrian Post has been relying on the deployment of electric vehicles within the context of its CO₂ Neutral Delivery initiative since 2011, making it a trailblazer in green logistics. About 1,600 electric-powered bikes, mopeds, quads and cars are already in use in Austrian Post’s daily business.
“As the country’s leading logistics company, we want to leverage the public’s familiarity with us to show that e-mobility works well in our regular operations and is also profitable. Our joining the EV100 initiative and the objective of having 100% e-vehicles on the last mile by the year 2030 comprise a logistical step on our journey toward CO₂-free and pollution-free logistics.”
Post CH Ltd (a subsidiary of Swiss Post Ltd) will switch more than 10,000 vehicles to electric under EV100. To accelerate climate action and to reach carbon neutral delivery, Post CH sees investing in a modern fleet of vehicles with energy-efficient, alternative drive systems and a well-designed logistics strategy as key.
Post CH has already electrified its mail delivery fleet consisting of 6,000 electric three-wheeled vehicles and now wants to switch 4,600 delivery vans (up to 3.5 tonne) and 180 service vehicles to EVs by 2030, if market supply and operating and real estate conditions allow. All of Post CH electric vehicles are 100% powered by ‘naturemade star’ – certified renewable energy from Switzerland. Furthermore, Post CH supports the uptake of electric vehicles by its staff by installing charging infrastructure at its largest sites.
Marco Reber, CEO of Post Company Cars Ltd, fleet management company for Post CH Ltd, said, “We have the largest fleet of electric three-wheeled scooters of its kind in Europe in use for mail delivery in Switzerland, running on green electricity produced in Switzerland.
“We are acting today for tomorrow by increasing the use of energy-efficient electric vehicles for parcel deliveries and service trips in order to further reduce CO₂ emissions and to save on operational costs. For the many stop-and-gos in delivery, to improve air quality and to reduce noise, EVs are the most optimal drive concept. Furthermore, we support the uptake of electric vehicles by our staff.”
With these and other commitments from a growing number of international businesses such as Deutsche Post DHL and LeasePlan, The Climate Group is seeing the electrification of more than two million vehicles by 2030 through its EV100 initiative.
A recent report from The Climate Group on the impact of the EV100 initiative so far revealed that cutting air pollution, reducing greenhouse gas emissions and generating financial savings are among the top drivers for business switch to EVs.
