NZ Post shows off first of 60 new electric vans

Wednesday, 19 October 2022

NZ Post has taken delivery of the first 22 of its new 60-strong fleet of electric Mercedes-Benz vans.

NZ Post has revealed the first of its new 60-strong fleet of electric Mercedes-Benz eVito vans, a $20 million initiative to “significantly” reduce its carbon emissions.

The vans will replace diesel and petrol vans currently in use by NZ Post and some of its delivery partners for last mile delivery and help achieve its science-based target to reduce its emissions by a third by 2030.

NZ Post’s new building in Grenada features a state-of-the art sorting machine that can scan and sort up to 11,000 parcels per hour.

“Transport is one of the largest sources of emissions in Aotearoa at 17 per cent – and we are playing our part to help meet our national reduction plans” said Dawn Baggaley, NZ Post’s Group Sustainability Manager.

“Our ambitious carbon reduction target aims to have all our own fleet and a quarter of our last mile delivery contractor fleet electric by 2025 – with the balance of the contractor fleet electric by 2030.”

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The eVito vans will be made available to NZ Post contractors as well.

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NZ Post teamed up with New Zealand Green Investment Finance (NZGIF) to get around the supply chain and access challenges with the electric vans. NZ Post and NZGIF each contributed $10 million to purchase the 60 eVitos, as well as implement the charging infrastructure and help contractors with access costs.

Contract partners are offered competitive financing and pricing benefits from a tiered leasing model. Alongside this, delivery partners have access to expert independent advice through Carbn Asset Management on the best option for their individual needs.

“Electric vehicles cost a lot less to run, but the initial purchasing cost can be a barrier. Teaming up with NZGIF and offering this competitive finance deal means our contractors can shift into electric vans sooner rather than later. There are over 2000 vans in our own fleet and contractor fleet for last mile that we will be transitioning over to electric to meet our science-based target.”

The first shipment of 22 eVito vans arrived at the end of July, with the remaining 38 due by the end of 2022. At the time, it was the single largest international order of electric Mercedes-Benz vans by a commercial operator.

Managing Director of Mercedes-Benz Vans Australia and New Zealand, Diane Tarr, said: “This is a very exciting step towards a more sustainable future for Mercedes-Benz Vans and our important partner NZ Post. We are now ready with a strong customer-centric electric product portfolio and can’t wait to see the eVito come to life on the road through NZ Post and their delivery partners.”

NZ Post is also operating more than 400 Paxters, the little electric postie delivery vehicles, as well as the first hydrogen truck for commercial use in New Zealand. The Hyundai Xcient fuel-cell heavy truck is saving 170 tonnes of CO2 per year, displacing approximately 100 passenger cars.