Evri embarks on a £19m journey to transform parcel delivery through an expansive rollout of electric cargo bikes.
- The company aims to create the largest fleet of e-cargo bikes in the UK, pushing for significant carbon emission reductions.
- Plans include increasing e-cargo bikes from 33 to 99 and scaling up electric vehicles from 168 to 270 within a year.
- Evri establishes a dedicated taskforce to innovate zero-emission last-mile delivery strategies.
- A long-term vision targets 3,000 e-cargo bikes by the next decade, aligning with net-zero goals by 2035.
Evri, the parcel delivery company, has announced a significant investment of £19 million to expand its fleet of electric cargo bikes. This move is part of a broader strategy to reduce the company’s carbon emissions and enhance sustainability within the parcel delivery sector. By increasing the number of e-cargo bikes from 33 to 99 and expanding the fleet of electric vehicles from 168 to 270 within the next year, Evri is positioning itself as the largest operator of such bikes in the UK.
The company has not only invested in vehicles but also established a final-mile electrification taskforce. This group is tasked with devising innovative solutions and forming strategic partnerships to ensure that last-mile deliveries are conducted in a zero-emission manner. As part of its longer-term environmental goals, Evri plans to have 3,000 e-cargo bikes in operation over the next decade, contributing to its ambition to become a net-zero company by 2035.
Currently, Evri utilises its electric cargo bikes in cities such as London, Bristol, Oxford, and Cambridge. With an annual delivery capacity of 1.5 million parcels via e-cargo bikes and electric vehicles, the company plans to triple this figure to approximately 4 million parcels in the coming year. The commitment to sustainability is further evidenced by a 9% reduction in carbon emissions achieved since the previous year.
Evri’s Chief Executive, Martijn De Lange, remarked on the initiative, noting that ‘pedal power will rev up our efforts to reimagine parcel deliveries in the UK.’ He highlighted the company’s achieved reduction in carbon emissions and the ambition to be recognised as the UK’s most sustainable parcel carrier. A single parcel delivery by an e-cargo bike reportedly saves up to 250g of carbon, with plans to deliver 4 million parcels a year potentially saving emissions equivalent to driving over 400,000 miles.
The investment also includes enhancing the company’s electric vehicle infrastructure, with an additional 148 EVs to be introduced before the festive period and 122 more by spring 2025. These additions will ensure that over half of ParcelShop drop-offs and collections are conducted via electric vans.
Furthermore, Evri is improving its out-of-home network, which currently boasts over 15,000 locations, including Tesco Express and Post Office branches. The broader sustainability initiative has led to a 21% reduction in carbon emissions per parcel for the financial year 2023-24.
The company’s efforts in sustainability have not gone unnoticed, as it received a Silver EcoVadis rating, placing it among the top 15% globally for sustainability practices. With 100% of its electricity consumption backed by renewable energy sources, Evri also utilises alternative fuels such as hydrotreated vegetable oil at its Brooklands depot, showcasing its commitment to environmental responsibility.
Evri’s multi-million-pound investment signifies a pivotal shift towards sustainable parcel delivery, aiming for net-zero status by 2035.
