DPD welcomes all-electric Mercedes-Benz eVito vans

Delivery firm DPD has taken delivery of ten all-new, fully-electric eVito from Mercedes-Benz Vans.
 
The new vans will now enter service in London from its fully-electric final mile delivery centre in Westminster.

DPD is planning a further eight all-electric micro depots in the capital, as well as commencing a nationwide roll-out of its EV fleet as soon as possible.
 
“We envisage a major role for the Mercedes-Benz eVito in towns and cities nationwide,” confirmed Dave Winchcombe, Head of Transport at DPD UK. “It is larger than other currently available electric vans, and is therefore better suited to DPD’s business model, yet still offers the environmental compatibility which is essential to our strategy.”
 
Winchcombe continued: “Mercedes-Benz vehicles form the backbone of our operation, and our partnership with the manufacturer is one that we value extremely highly. We are delighted, therefore, to have become the first customer for a van which, in terms of performance and practicality, represents a big step forward on the road towards a lower carbon future.”
 
The vehicle’s 41 kWh battery is securely mounted in a protective housing beneath the cargo floor, and does not compromise the load area. Fully recharged in six hours, it gives the eVito a range of approximately 93 miles – this is supplemented by recuperative energy technology, but will be reduced by constant driving with a full load.
 
DPD’s eVito models have 3.2-tonne gross weights. As Long-bodied variants, each offers up to 6.0m3 of cargo area, and a payload allowance of 1,043 kg. The eVito panel van is also available in Extra-long form, with 6.6m3 load volume and 1,073 kg maximum carrying capacity. The vehicle comes with three seats and, like its diesel-engined version, sliding load doors on both sides.
 
Prior to delivery, the 10 vans underwent conversion by Manchester-based specialist Handsfree Group, which installs DPD’s own communications systems and fits additional security measures.
 
Dave Winchcombe continued: “We’ll now be delivering a programme of product-specific driver training with support from Mercedes-Benz, and will also be focusing on our route profiles to ensure we extract the maximum operational benefit from these important new vehicles.”