Royal Mail trials micro electric vehicles in Swindon as part of drive to reduce emissions

Royal Mail is trialling micro electric vehicles to deliver letters and small parcels in Swindon in a bid to reduce carbon emissions.

The company is testing two types of vehicle: the Paxster Cargo and the Ligier Pulse 4.

With the UK's largest 'Feet on the Street' network of over 85,000 postmen and women, Royal Mail already has the lowest reported CO2e emissions per parcel amongst major UK delivery companies.

The micro electric vehicles form part of Royal Mail’s programme of low or zero-emission vehicle trials designed to make the UK’s lowest reported CO2e emissions per parcel delivery even lower.

Roughly the size of a golf buggy or a quad bike, the vehicles will be assessed in residential areas as a potential lower-carbon alternative to larger vans, which are typically shared by two posties.

The trial will assess whether giving two posties access to separate vehicles could provide greater flexibility on busy routes in a more environmentally friendly way.

Liveried in traditional Royal Mail red, the vehicles have been specially designed to help postmen and postwomen deliver letters and smaller parcels on the daily round in a secure and efficient way.

The vehicles are being trialled until March next year in Edinburgh, Crewe, Liverpool and London as well as Swindon.

Royal Mail CEO Simon Thompson said: “It’s really exciting to see these micro electric vehicles making their way into our daily deliveries.

"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.”