An Post and Renault Ireland are joining forces in Ireland’s first ever on-the-road trial of electrically powered post vans. 

The detailed like-for-like study will compare the energy/fuel efficiency, maintenance costs and overall performance of the Renault Kangoo Z.E. (electric) mini van against its traditional diesel counterpart over designated city postal routes in Dublin, Cork and Galway over the next 12 months.

An Post operates one of Ireland’s largest fleets with over 2,700 vehicles ranging from smaller vans to large articulated vehicles.  The company uses more than 7.5 million litres of diesel annually and in 2011, the company’s fleet-related fuel costs were in the region of €10 million. 

An Post Chief Executive, Donal Connell explained that cost efficiency and environmental sustainability are the driving forces behind the trial:
“We are unique in how much of the country we cover every working day, delivering to 2.1 million business and home addresses in all kinds of terrain, through all types of weather.   An Post is constantly introducing more efficient and more effective ways of working but new methods have to balance environmental and economic sustainability.  We’re very pleased to be conducting this like-for-like trial with this calibre of vehicle and we’re looking forward to reviewing the data with Renault Ireland over the coming months,” he added.

Eric Basset, Managing Director of Renault Ireland reconfirmed its commitment to the success of the electric vehicle in Ireland: “We are delighted to launch this trial with An Post, the first of its type with the Renault Kangoo Z.E. in Ireland.  The data established will be of great benefit to other companies looking at incorporating Renault EVs into their fleet as we have best offering of electric vehicles in terms of price, choice, benefits and range. The Renault Network of dealerships in Ireland is fully trained in all aspects relating to electric vehicles from technical training to sales and after sales training. Ireland is an ideal test bed in terms of the size of the country, as the average daily commute is less than 40km, the incentives are in place and the vehicles are now here and ready to drive”.

The Renault Kangoo Z.E. postvans will be tested on a variety of An Post mails collection and delivery routes and each vehicle’s energy usage and overall running costs monitored alongside those of the diesel model, of which An Post has currently 940 in its fleet.