DHL to deploy electric vans in major cities by 2018

Deutsche Post DHL Group is planning to deploy 2,500 new electric vans on the street of major cities by the end of next year, it has emerged.

The plan follows the production and unveiling by both DHL and Ford Motor Corporation, the United States vehicle producer, of a jointly manufactured electric delivery van. There is now growing demand for emission-free utility vehicles.

Known as the StreetScooter WORK XL, the electric van combines a Ford Transit chassis with an electric drive-train that was designed for the German logistics giant.

The van is the third and largest electric delivery van DHL is making. It started manufacturing its own vehicles after finding none that met its specifications.

When it deploys the 2,500 new electric vans by the close of 2018 in major cities of the world, each of the vans is expected to save five metrics tons (5.5 tons) of carbon dioxide a year.

On Wednesday Deutsche Post DHL, which has started selling the smaller models of the vans manufactured by it, said that the StreetScooter WORK XL could be available for purchase in the future.