Royal Mail opts for Peugeot

August 17, 2022

Royal Mail has taken delivery of 2 000 Peugeot e-Expert and Peugeot e-Partner electric vans.

The latest vehicles join the 28 000 Peugeot vehicles already in use by the United Kingdom’s national delivery service.

Peugeot has been providing Royal Mail with vehicles since 2009. With the addition of the new electric vans, Royal Mail continues to work towards its aim of having 5 500 electric vehicles on its fleet by 2023.

A total of 70 of Royal Mail’s delivery offices have made the transition to electrification so far, with many of the vehicles used to deliver parcels and packages to customers in cities which operate with low emission zones, such as London, Bristol, Glasgow, Cambridge, and Oxford.

Royal Mail’s commitment to reduce emissions throughout its operations comes hand in hand with Peugeot’s electrification strategy, which aims to provide customers with an electrified variant of each model in its range by 2024.

Julie David, managing director of Peugeot UK, expressed delight at the order. “I am incredibly pleased that we can continue to support Royal Mail with models from our award-winning electric van range, including the Peugeot e-Partner, which is set to be produced right here in the UK at our Ellesmere Port plant from early next year. The Peugeot e-Partner and e-Expert make no compromise on useful volume or practicality compared with the diesel versions. With every van in our range already benefitting from an electric version and every car offering an electrified variant by 2024, we look forward to continuing our support of the Royal Mail and its ambition for a greener future.”

The Peugeot e-Partner and e-Expert have both received extensive praise from drivers and industry experts. The Peugeot e-Partner is powered by a 50 kWh battery providing a range of up to 275 km. 171 miles. The van offers a load volume of 4.4 m³ (matching its diesel equivalent) and a payload of up to 800 kg. Customers can choose from two body styles (Standard and Long) and from Panel Van (up to three seats) and Crew Van (up to five seats) configurations.

Available with either a 50 kWh or 75kWh battery, the Peugeot e-Expert offers up to 330 km of range, while customers also have a choice of two lengths (Standard and Long). With a payload of up to 1 226 kg and a 6.6m³ load volume, the e-Expert is a highly practical medium van.

A launch date for these vehicles in South Africa has yet to be confirmed. “Stellantis has a clear roadmap for electric vehicles (EVs) in all its markets including South Africa. We are working on managing the local roadblocks such as infrastructure and duties that impact the price. Our aim is to bring affordable EVs to the market at the right time. In the short term we have planned alternative energy drivetrains and we will make those announcements shortly,” says a spokesperson for Stellantis South Africa.