Tag: Spain

Correos will start using electric vans and bicycles for postal deliveries. For the start up of these pilot projects, the postal company approved at the end of 2007 the purchase of the first commercial vehicles (five) and bicycles (nine) adapted for carrying small loads, which will make the postal carriers’ jobs easier in the pedestrian-only areas, where they are currently required to deliver large volumes of post on foot, manually.

This initiative is in addition to others promoted by Correos to stay ahead of the anti-pollution guidelines and regulations adopted by the European Union. In fact, the Spanish public operator, which has also ratified its commitment as a socially responsible company, already purchased 28 “Euro-4” lorries in 2006, ahead of the EU mandate.

These types of vehicles are more expensive than conventional vehicles, but their useful life is longer and they are less expensive to use and maintain. This advantage is added to the environmental benefits, since they don’t use oil-based fuel, the contaminating effects are drastically reduced. Furthermore, they do not generate any noise.

With the addition of ecological vans and bicycles to Correo’s fleet, which comprises over 13,000 vehicles including lorries, vans and motorbikes, and in which it has invested an average of EUR 14 million in the last three years, the public postal operator strengthens its contribution to environmental protection.

The van model chosen has a useful load capacity of over 400 kg and its side doors and rear door are very practical to handle, even with the bulkiest parcels.

Once these vehicles and bicycles have been tested and adapted for mail deliveries in the respective pilot projects, Correos will gradually add more ecological units.