Top 10 key learnings from An Post
To reach 2030 zero emission goals, LeasePlan is helping companies around the world make the transition to electric. Our client, An Post (Irish Postal Service), embarked on this journey two years ago and they’ve shared their key learnings with us.
About An Post
The Irish postal service delivers 2.1 million letters and parcels a day. It has a fleet size of 4,500+ last mile vehicles, including over 1,000 EVs with 120 depots. An Post is also a fellow member of EV100, the global initiative made up of leading international businesses dedicated to accelerating the move to electric vehicles worldwide.
An Post has a robust track record in the adoption of electric vehicles across its fleet and is the first postal service provider in the world to attain zero emission delivery status in a capital city - Dublin. Deliveries in the cities of Limerick, Cork, Galway, Waterford and Kilkenny are now also emissions free, with more urban areas and suburbs to follow this year.
Key learnings
Seeing how other businesses have made the switch can be both encouraging and informative. We’ve asked An Post to outline the top ten learnings from their EV journey
- Look at the total cost of ownership and not just the purchase price. Typically, eLCVs and EVs have a higher purchase price but less wear and tear and a higher resale value.
- Remember that eLCVs outlast LCVs. With fewer moving parts and a longer lifecycle, electric LCVs last around 2 years longer.
- Keep in mind that the demand is there from customers, society and potential clients. Fewer customers want their post turning up in a ‘polluting van’ and therefore they’re increasingly including sustainability demands in tenders.
- Trial eLCVs with employees and offer driver training to remove worries and doubts. Once people try an electric van, they quickly see how easy it is to use.
- Start the roll-out in cities, where the route is mostly around 100 km per route (the standard Standard EV range is around 400 km).
- Take time to set up your chargers and figure out your electricity sources. Look at the number and types of chargers you’ll need and where they need to go. Stick to critical routes at first. That way, you’ll ensure the vans on these routes always have access to charging.
- Find charging solutions for vehicles that are brought home by staff. Ideally, vehicles should be returned to central depots or locations.
- Enjoy increased staff satisfaction. Most staff are happier driving an EV and find it more relaxing – an unexpected bonus.
- Phase the transition. Gradually adding EVs to your fleet helps you to make comparisons to your existing vehicles and highlight the benefits they bring. This makes it easier to speed up the transition once they start to prove themselves.
- Don’t do it all yourself. Make it a collaborative process. Be open to advice from your colleagues, OEMs, and leasing/fleet management company.
Learn how you can transition your fleet today. Contact us here.