Australia Post to test all-electric Renault delivery vehicle
Australia Post is testing out Renault’s all-electric commercial van, the Kangoo Maxi ZE in a year-long proof of concept. The van is already used by some postal operators in various parts of Europe, but is not currently offered in Australia.
Australia Post said it will be the first to use the vehicle in Australia, testing four vans out in day-to-day parcel and letter deliveries.
Two of the vehicles will be tested out at the Post’s Melbourne Business Hub from this summer, with two additional vehicles to be tested at StarTrack House in Sydney later in the year.
The company’s head of environmental sustainability Andrew Sellick said the trial was “an important step” in assessing the real-world use of electric commercial vehicles, as part of a broader strategy to test various alternative fuel technologies.
He said the electric vans would be recharged with power from renewable sources to maximise their environmental benefits.
Sellick explained: “The Kangoo proof-of-concept will give us a clearer picture of the benefits of using electric powered delivery vans. Through this assessment we expect to see at least a 50% reduction in energy costs and a 100% reduction in carbon emissions to comparable combustible-engine vehicles in our fleet.”
Australia Post already runs 740 electric bikes and more than 100 hybrid vehicles within its fleet, while parcels subsidiary StarTrack has 25 hybrid trucks, and uses 5% biodiesel in its transport fuel.
Sellick said the trial with Renault’s Kangoo Maxi ZE could help drive the commercialisation of the vehicle in Australia.
According to Renault, the Kangoo Maxi ZE has a 106 mile range, with a loading space of between 1.3 cubic metres and 4.6 cubic metres depending on the model, and a 650 kg load capacity.
Renault Australia’s Managing Director, Justin Hocevar, said: “Through our partnership with Australia Post, we are able to comprehensively investigate the business case for introducing the fully electric Kangoo Z.E. van in Australia in the future.”
Australia Post said it has received funding support from the Victorian Government Department of Transport, Planning and Local Infrastructure for the installation of a vehicle charging station at its Melbourne Business Hub.
