DPD is deploying its first electric Mercedes-Benz delivery van in London, ahead of the UK launch. The parcel giant will use 10 eVitos in the UK capital, operating from the all-electric depot which DPD opened in Westminster in 2018.

DPD chose the eVito because it is larger than other electric vans, making it more suitable for the company’s business model, but still fully electric. This is the first UK use of the model. The vehicle can carry over a ton in payload with a 6.6 cubic metre load volume. It takes around six hours to fully recharge and has a range of around 93 miles.

“Reducing and neutralising our carbon footprint by providing smarter and more efficient urban delivery solutions, and investing in innovation, are at the heart of DPD’s DrivingChange programme. We want to be the leader in alternative fuel vehicles in the UK, and the Mercedes-Benz eVito, like the larger eSprinter which we also look forward to seeing, is integral to our EV strategy. Aside from their zero tailpipe emissions and exemplary environmental credentials, both vehicles offer the volume and payload potentials that make them genuinely viable propositions.” said Rob Fowler, DPD UK’s GM for corporate social responsibility and general planning.

DPD will now work with Mercedes-Benz on a training programme for eVito drivers and will look to create the most efficient routes for using the vehicles.

Dave Winchcombe, head of transport at DPD UK, said the firm “envisage[s] a major role for the Mercedes-Benz eVito in towns and cities nationwide.” He added that the eVito, “in terms of performance and practicality, represents a big step forward on the road towards a lower carbon future.”