DHL and Ford reveal first joint electric van for parcel deliveries

FORD and Deutsche Post DHL Group have debuted the first of their jointly produced electric van, called the e-van, for parcel deliveries.

Called the StreetScooter WORK XL, it is based on a Ford Transit chassis fitted with a battery-electric drivetrain and a body designed and built to Deutsche Post DHL specifications.

The plan is that around 150 early build e-vans, will be manufactured in the StreetScooter plant in Aachen, Germany. Then, these e-vans will be used by Deutsche Post DHL to support its urban parcel delivery service in Germany. With Deutsche Post DHL, StreetScooter and Ford planning to build 2,500 e-vans by the end of 2018.

More interestingly, considering the recent UK proposals to change licence to drive larger electric vans, is that like StreetScooter’s existing electric models – the WORK and WORK L – the WORK XL could be also sold to third-party customers.

The WORK XL boasts a load volume of 20 cubic metres and provide stowage space for more than 200 parcels. It is fitted with a modular battery system, delivering 30 kWh to 90 kWh of power, giving it a range of between 80 km and 200 km.

The WORK XL differs in size and range from its sister vans, as the WORK has 4 cubic metres load volume and the WORK L 8 cubic metres load volume.

There are also differences in terms of the body construction, as the WORK XL’s load area is fitted with shelves and is accessible from the driver’s cab. Plus, this vehicle can be loaded via the tailgate and a kerb-side sliding door.

It also boasts a charging capacity of up to 22 kW, with the average charging time being three hours.

Each WORK XL could save around five tonnes of CO2 and 1,900 litres of diesel fuel each year. With 2,500 vehicles in service as planned, this could result in a total saving of 12,500 tonnes of CO2 and 4.75 million litres of fuel every year.

Jürgen Gerdes, Member of the Board of Management Post – eCommerce – Parcel, at Deutsche Post DHL Group, said of the new van: “The new StreetScooter WORK XL expands our e-fleet in the commercial vehicle segment. It is the perfect vehicle for parcel deliveries in major cities and large urban areas, and will enable us to cope with the rising parcel volumes in an even more environmentally friendly and quieter manner. With this commitment, we are also underlining our claim of being the market leader in green logistics.”

Steven Armstrong, group vice president and president, Europe, Middle East & Africa, Ford Motor Company, added: “We’re really proud of this ambitious project, and of the strong partnership we’ve developed with Deutsche Post DHL Group and StreetScooter.

“This joint project will be Europe’s largest manufacturer of emission-free, medium-sized e-vans, and it doesn’t come a moment too soon. Buses, cars, and of course, delivery vans play vital roles in our daily lives, but we have to find a way to make them cleaner. This project is a great step along this path.”

In addition to the new WORK XL, Deutsche Post DHL has more than 3,000 StreetScooter WORK and WORK L electric vehicles, plus about 10,500 peddlecs currently in service with Deutsche Post DHL, making them the largest e-fleet operator in Germany.