DHL Express Italia goes electric

DHL Express has begun using the first of 50 Nissan e-NV200 electric delivery vans in its fleet in Italy, as part of its bid to curb the Company’s worldwide emissions. The logistics company said the van had proved it could cover a typical duty cycle, completing 45 deliveries and 25 collections on a simulated route around Rome. It covered 75 miles, which is well comfortably within the range of one battery charge.

DHL said it will begin the roll-out with vehicles being deployed in Milan and Rome, with Florence, Verona, Bologna, Naples, Salerno, Bari and Catania due to get them afterwards. They join a fleet of over 10,500 alternative fuel vehicles in use all over the world, including a range of electric cars and vans.

Alberto Nobis, Managing Director of DHL Express Italia said: ‘Use of these innovative zero-impact vans is another part of the global GoGreen programme designed by Deutsche Post DHL to lower the Group’s worldwide CO2 emissions by 30% by 2020.

‘Moreover, the Nissan vehicles us to implement a sustainable City Logistics strategy, as they are also particularly well suited to making deliveries in historic centres.”