New Zealand Post investing in new electric delivery vehicles
New Zealand Post has announced that it is adding new Paxster electric vehicles to its delivery fleet. A total of $15m has been set aside for the purchase of the vehicles over the next two years, with the first shipment of 50 Paxsters due to arrive in mid-2016.
The four-wheeled battery powered vehicles from Norway-based Paxster will be used to deliver both parcels and mail in residential areas in larger centres across New Zealand, starting in parts of Auckland later this year.
“The vehicles will give us extra capacity to meet the growing demand created by online shopping and give us an edge in the competitive parcel delivery market,” said Ashley Smout, Service Delivery Chief Operating Officer for New Zealand Post.
“They’ll allow us to be more efficient and, over time, enable new and convenient services to residential customers such as parcel pick-ups, returns and re-directions,” says Mr Smout. “Capacity will also be freed up in our vans so couriers can concentrate on business customers.”
The four-wheeled vehicles carry loads of up to 200kg but are still small enough to be used on the footpath. They have a road speed of 45 kilometres per hour (km/h) and a range of 80-90km.
As previously reported by Post&Parcel, they have already been used as part of pilot for combined parcel and mail delivery in Taranaki and have been tested in road trials in Auckland and Wellington.
In a statement issued on 12 February, New Zealand Post added that it is now working with staff and unions on detailed plans for the national rollout.
