Austrian Post: we have a strong European partner on board who is actively supporting us on the way to CO2-free delivery
With a new Mercedes-Benz eSprinter, Österreichische Post AG has put its 5,000th e-vehicle into operation.
This means that every second delivery vehicle in the total fleet of 10,000 vehicles already has an electric drive and is CO2-free by purchasing electricity from renewable energy sources. More and more parcels, letters, brochures, newspapers and magazines are being delivered by Austrian Post e-vehicles. In order to achieve the goal of nationwide CO2-free delivery on the last mile by 2030, Austrian Post is purchasing more than 1,000 additional electric vehicles every year.
“With our 5,000th electric vehicle, we have broken a sound barrier and with Mercedes-Benz we have a strong European partner on board who is actively supporting us on the way to CO2-free delivery on the last mile. We have a lot planned for this year, in addition to the nationwide switch to e-mobility in Vienna, we will also use the first e-vehicles in mountainous regions and thus give our customers a real advantage,” explains Peter Umundum, Deputy Managing Director, Member of the Management Board for Parcel & Logistics, Österreichische Post AG.
“We are very pleased that Austrian Post’s 5,000th electric vehicle has been awarded a star. Our battery-electric Mercedes-Benz eSprinters help us to meet our own goals in the area of locally CO2-free parcel delivery traffic. The versatility and flexibility make the eSprinter the ideal choice in the pick-up and delivery fleet. Reliability and customer orientation are important values, both in logistics and in vehicle manufacturing. Mercedes-Benz is committed to both,” says Michael Jopp, Managing Director Vans, Mercedes-Benz Austria.
LARGEST E-FLEET, DIVERSE MAKES, MORE ELECTRICITY FROM PHOTOVOLTAICS
Austrian Post’s e-fleet is not only by far the largest in Austria, it is also growing rapidly. Since spring 2022, only electric vehicles have been purchased in delivery, with around 1,000 new electric vehicles being added every year. Austrian Post is focusing on various makes, currently such as new acquisitions of Mercedes-Benz, Fiat and Maxus. Austrian Post is also relying almost exclusively on electric vehicles for company vehicles – for sales, field service or car sharing – and combustion engines are gradually being phased out.
Austrian Post already produces some of the electricity required for this itself: the company operates photovoltaic systems with an output of more than 18 megawatt peak (MWp) at 32 locations throughout Austria. As a result, Austrian Post has increased its share of self-sufficiency in electricity from renewable energy sources to over 20 percent and operates the largest rooftop system portfolio in Austria. Only green electricity from Austria is purchased.
THE MERCEDES-BENZ ESPRINTER – LOCAL CO2-FREE DELIVERY PROFESSIONAL
The new Mercedes-Benz eSprinter is the electrified pioneer in the large delivery van segment. Two body variants and lengths, three battery capacities and a high payload as the basis for numerous conversions and body variants make the new eSprinter a perfect large delivery van for commercial customers. A triad of efficiency, range and load capacity makes the new Mercedes-Benz eSprinter a versatile all-rounder that is ideally suited to the requirements of the courier, express and parcel service industries.
The electric range is up to 446 kilometres based on a simulation of the WLTP cycle (Worldwide Harmonized Light-Duty Vehicles Test Procedure): Active thermal management improves efficiency, and a heat pump is standard. With a load volume of up to 14 cubic metres and a permissible gross weight of up to 4.25 tonnes, the eSprinter with rear-wheel drive is just as practical as its counterpart with a combustion engine. The battery cells are made of lithium iron phosphate, which means they are free of cobalt and nickel, and are ideal for light commercial vehicles due to their durability. Energy recovery in coasting and braking mode (recuperation) ensures optimised and efficient driving.
