Royal Mail announces the launch of its first Delivery Office in Scotland to feature an all-electric fleet of collection and delivery vehicles as the UK prepares to launch the 26th United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP26) in Glasgow. The Delivery Office is just a short walk across the River Clyde from the Scottish Event Campus, where the COP26 Climate Summit is due to be held.
The G51 Delivery Office in the Govan area of the city has had its 13 diesel delivery and collection vans replaced by fully electric equivalents - comprising the Office's entire collection and delivery fleet. Two micro electric vehicles will also be joining the fleet as the Company steps up its drive to further reduce emissions associated with its operations. These micro electric vehicles are roughly the size of a golf buggy or a quad bike, with a load size of between 1.2m3 and 2.0m3. They have the capacity to accommodate more than an average daily round's worth of letters and small parcels.
With the UK's largest 'Feet on the Street' network of over 85,000 postmen and women, Royal Mail already has the lowest reported CO2e emissions per parcel amongst major UK delivery companies. This move forms part of Royal Mail's rollout of low or zero emission vehicles, designed to make the UK's lowest reported CO2e emissions per parcel delivery even lower.
Royal Mail has worked with BP Pulse in Glasgow to complete infrastructure works and install eight 7kW electric charging points. The energy to power the vehicles is from 100% renewable hydroelectric, solar and wind sources.
The Glasgow Delivery Office was selected because of the City's plans for a Low Emissions Zone (LEZ), which will require vehicles to meet certain emissions standards to enter its centre. At present, other Delivery Offices across the UK are being considered for similar fleet makeovers in coming months - particularly those in places with existing Clean Air or Low Emissions Zones, or with plans to introduce them.
Simon Thompson, Chief Executive Officer at Royal Mail said: 'It's fantastic news that we are able to transform the Glasgow G51 Delivery Office into the first Royal Mail 'all-electric' Delivery Office in Scotland. We always want to do the right thing by the communities we serve in terms of keeping our emissions as low as we can, and this is another important step in that direction. This is all in addition to our amazing posties delivering the mail by walking the streets of course.'
First Minister Nicola Sturgeon said: 'With the eyes of the world turning to Glasgow ahead of COP26, it's vital that we lead by example when it comes to tackling the climate emergency. That is why it is such welcome news that Royal Mail are launching their first all-electric Delivery Office in Scotland just across the Clyde from where the summit will take place.
'Converting this delivery office entirely to electric vehicles is a really positive step towards our shared goal of net-zero and I want to thank Royal Mail for their efforts in making this happen.'
The Electric Vehicles (EVs)
The fully electric vans have up to 38% larger load space than the vehicles they have replaced, giving them additional capacity to deal with growing parcel volumes. With lower maintenance requirements, the electric fleet promises more on-road time and higher levels of reliability.
The 13 new vans can travel up to 90 miles on a single charge, depending on weather conditions and load size. As part of Royal Mail's recent expansion of telemetry technology across its fleet, the vans will also have telemetry capabilities installed, aimed at encouraging more efficient driving techniques.
These benefits are in addition to helping the area's 29 postmen and postwomen deliver letters and parcels safely and efficiently, while producing fewer emissions.
Contact:
Royal Mail
Press Office
Email: press.office@royalmail.com
Recent Royal Mail environmental initiatives:
In June, Royal Mail announced a ten-fold increase in the number of electric vehicles it runs across its UK fleet with plans to introduce around 3,000 additional electric vans throughout the UK.
In May, the Company announced the launch of 29 low emission gas powered trucks, fuelled by Bio-Compressed Natural Gas (Bio-CNG). The 40 tonne Heavy Goods Vehicles (HGVs) are similar in size and look to a conventional Royal Mail truck but are significantly quieter. They also emit roughly 84 per cent less CO2e than a typical diesel-fuelled vehicle of this size.
In May, Royal Mail announced the launch of its first ever Delivery Office to feature an all-electric fleet of collection and delivery vehicles. The Bristol East Central Delivery Office, located in the City's Easton area, has had its 23 diesel delivery and collection vans replaced by fully electric equivalents - comprising the Office's entire collection and delivery fleet. Six electric charging posts and 12 charging points have also been installed on the site as part of the transformation.
In May, Royal Mail announced a trial of the first out-of-sight, autonomous scheduled drone flights between the UK mainland the Isles of Scilly. As part of the trial we are examining what fuel efficiencies drones could provide as part of the Company's continued drive to reduce emissions associated with its operations.
In July, Royal Mail announced a new initiative to ensure all its employee company cars will be electric by 2030. By 2025, only electric cars will be available to order across all company car schemes.
In August, Royal Mail announced a six to nine-month trial in partnership with Transport for London and manufacturer ENSO, to see innovative tyres fitted to selected electric vans to test their emission-reducing and efficiency-enhancing capability. The tyres are designed to produce fewer microparticles in comparison to normal tyres and increase vehicle range.
About Royal Mail plc
The Group consists of two principal operations; our UK-based operation which includes Royal Mail and Parcelforce Worldwide (Royal Mail) and our international operation, General Logistics Systems (GLS). Royal Mail is the leading provider of postal and delivery services in the UK and the UK's designated universal postal service provider. Through the Royal Mail Core Network, the company delivers a one-price-goes-anywhere service on a range of parcels and letters products. Royal Mail has the capability to deliver to more than 30 million addresses in the UK, six days a week (excluding UK public holidays). Parcelforce Worldwide operates a separate UK network which collects and delivers express parcels. General Logistics Systems (GLS) which operates one of the largest ground-based, deferred parcel delivery networks in Europe.
INTERNATIONAL DISTRIBUTIONS SERVICES PLC 
