“The rapid introduction of CO2-free delivery by Austrian Post is an impressive example of sustainable innovation”
193 Austrian Post electric vehicles are now on the road in Salzburg. In July 2023, Austrian Post announced its CO2-free delivery plans for Salzburg, and the changeover will take place less than a year later.
Parcels, letters, print media and direct mail are now delivered electrically on the last mile. The electric vehicles will be powered by green electricity from Austrian Post’s photovoltaic systems and green electricity from Austria.
“The rapid introduction of CO2-free delivery by Austrian Post in Salzburg is an impressive example of sustainable innovation and environmental protection. This measure actively contributes to the reduction of emissions and sends a clear signal for future-oriented, environmentally conscious logistics. In addition, this initiative shows that we can make a significant contribution to climate protection through joint efforts and investments in green technologies,” says Stefan Schnöll, Deputy Governor of Salzburg.
“Green Salzburg” is an important step on Austrian Post’s sustainability agenda, which promisesCO2-free delivery throughout Austria by 2030.
“Our strong commitment to sustainable logistics is becoming visible step by step in Austria. Salzburg is now the third provincial capital, after Graz and Innsbruck, in which we deliverCO2-free. Every year, we cover around 1.9 million kilometres in Salzburg purely electrically, saving more than 180,000 litres of diesel,” explains Peter Umundum, Director of the Board of Management for Parcel & Logistics at Österreichische Post AG.
Parcel deliveries are made directly from the Thalgau logistics centre. Letters, print media and advertising items are delivered from two delivery bases in the city of Salzburg. Austrian Post has set up 126 charging stations and put 193 electric vehicles into operation for this purpose. The total investment costs amount to around six million euros.
WITH FOSSIL-FREE FUEL ON THE MÖNCHSBERG
An exception is the delivery at Mönchsberg: As the only district in Salzburg, a four-wheel drive vehicle is required for year-round delivery, which also has to fit through a narrow, historic archway. Since there are currently no corresponding electrically powered commercial vehicles with all-wheel drive on the market, Austrian Post will refuel this delivery vehicle with Hydrotreated Vegetable Oils (HVO) as soon as it is available in Salzburg. HVO is a renewable fuel made from waste, fats, vegetable residues and vegetable oils. Compared to fossil diesel, up to 90 percent of CO2 emissions can be saved over the product life cycle, according to the manufacturer.
AUSTRIA’S LARGEST E-FLEET: SWISS POST OPERATES MORE THAN 4,000 EV VEHICLES
More than 4,000 Austrian Post electric vehicles are on Austria’s roads. Austrian Post’s e-fleet is not only by far the largest in the country, it is also growing rapidly. Since spring 2022, only electric vehicles have been purchased in delivery, with up to 1,000 new ones being added every year. The Austria-wide e-fleet consists of more than 1,200 e-bikes, e-cargo bikes, e-mopeds and e-trikes as well as more than 2,700 e-transporters. By 2030, Austrian Post will convert its entire delivery fleet of 10,000 vehicles to electric drive and deliver all consignments CO2-free.
Austrian Post already produces some of the electricity required for this itself: 28 photovoltaic systems with a current output of around 9.54 megawatts peak (MWp) are in operation throughout Austria. The Austria-wide expansion this year will amount to around 15 MWp. Only green electricity from Austria is purchased.
In addition, Austrian Post is also converting its transport logistics trucks to the renewable fuel HVO. In the province of Salzburg, trucks fuelled with HVO already cover more than 5,000 km a day.
