Delivery giant Hermes UK has last week announced it will be deploying 168 electric vans from Mercedes-Benz, to be integrated into its fleet of delivery vehicles by the end of this year. The move marks the company’s first significant foray into EV’s, and follows its successful trials of the van type at a depot in Enfield, North London in collaboration with supplier Intercounty Truck & Van.
Pod Point UK has been brought on board to install charging points throughout Hermes’ network of depot sites, with installation of these already underway in London.
The eSprinter models provided by Mercedes-Benz are reportedly identical in load volume to the diesel-powered vans already in use by Hermes UK, and use a 55kWh battery pack that can be charged from 10% to 80% in around half an hour using an 80kW charger.
In a statement, Hermes head of fleet David Landy acknowledged that the transition to electric will not be an easy one, saying: “The transition to a zero-emission electric fleet is integral to our ESG (environment, social and governance) agenda, and we’ve been keen to take the next, major step forward towards this goal.
“However, we are under no illusions… this will not be an easy journey. From a purely operational standpoint, and given the current state of the technology, whichever way you look at it – whether in terms of range, payload or volume – a van with an internal combustion engine beats an electric one hands down.
“Only when it comes to tailpipe emissions does the battery-powered vehicle outshine the diesel. So we know there are constraints and compromises to make, and we recognise that this is going to put extra pressure and increased demands on those colleagues out in our depots who are doing a difficult job, day in, day out.”
In addition to the eSprinter, Hermes has placed an order of 132 diesel Sprinters from Truck & Van, though these are being seen as interim vehicles – leased year-to-year so their use can be discontinued as soon as the delivery firm is ready to deploy all-electric.
Hermes’ green push comes under its parent company Otto Group’s ambition to achieve carbon neutrality by 2030.
Sources:
https://www.edie.net/news/8/Hermes-orders-168-electric-vans-for-UK-fleet/