DPD has signed a deal with Maxus for 750 electric vans, doubling its total EV fleet in the UK.

DPD’s deal with Maxus will double the delivery firm’s total UK EV fleet to almost 1,500 vehicles

The agreement will see the first Maxus vans join the DPD fleet, including 500 long wheelbase 3.5-tonne e Deliver 9 electric vans and 250 of the smaller e Deliver 3.

The vehicles will bring DPD’s total EV UK fleet to almost 1,500 vehicles, with plans to extend that to over 1,700 EVs on the road by the end of the year – part of its strategy to be the most responsible and sustainable city centre delivery company and a leader in the move to electric vehicles in the UK. DPD’s plans have also seen it roll out a major new air quality monitoring programme in the UK, while in October 2020, it announced plans to go “totally green” on deliveries within 25 of the largest towns and cities in the UK by 2025.

DPD opted for both the 72kW and longer-range 88kW versions of the e Deliver 9; the 88kW version can cover over 200 miles on a single charge, transforming the capabilities of DPD’s EV operations.

DPD’s head of CSR, Olly Craughan, commented: “We’re absolutely delighted with the Maxus. The 3.5-tonne van is the workhorse of any delivery and collection fleet, so to get our hands on an EV with this kind of capacity and range is a real game changer for us.

“We’ve got EVs in every DPD depot already, but they are largely focused on quite compact routes, usually in city centres, where range isn’t an issue. But this opens up the possibility of clean, green deliveries on a much larger scale.”

The deal has been marked by a brand-new TV commercial that highlights DPD’s commitment to reducing its environmental footprint in the UK. The advert features shots of both Maxus EV models travelling through London as part of the brand’s last-mile delivery strategy, as well as in the UK countryside.

Mark Barrett, general manager of Harris Maxus, commented: “Maxus’ ethos is simple, we want to make the green option the easy option for businesses up and down the country as part of our commitment to ‘Going the Extra Mile’ in the fight against climate change. DPD has a similar vision, and we are very proud to be part of its evolution to a greener business model.”