In a statement, the Royal Mail said that thanks to its “Feet on the Street” network of over 85,000 postmen and women, it already has the lowest reported CO2 emissions per parcel amongst major UK delivery companies.
The MEVs the company is trialling could see those emissions per parcel delivery dip even lower.
The MEVs, which are roughly the size of a golf buggy or a quad bike, will be deployed in residential areas as a potential lower carbon alternative to larger vans typically manned by two postal workers. The trial will determine whether those postal staff having their own separate vehicles could provide greater flexibility on busy routes in a more environmentally friendly way.
The six-month trial will see a selection of vehicles operating in Edinburgh, Crewe, Liverpool, Swindon and London.
Commenting on the trial, Simon Thompson, Chief Executive Officer at Royal Mail, said:
“It’s really exciting to see these micro electric vehicles making their way into our daily deliveries. At Royal Mail we’re committed to keep on reducing our environmental impact and we intend to leave no stone unturned in trialling new technologies and new ways of delivering to help us do that. As our fantastic posties make most deliveries on-foot, this already means we have the lowest reported CO2e per parcel of major UK delivery companies. From drones to electric vehicles, fuel efficient tyres to bio-CNG trucks, we’ll keep on innovating to reduce our environmental impact even further.”