This cute “little” thing you see here is the delivery van of the future, which will be used by the 500-year-old Royal Mail as part of trials for electric-powered postal vehicles in London.
Supplied by a company called Arrival (formerly known as Charge Automotive), the one you see here is the three and a half-tonne version – one of three units that will operate out of Royal Mail’s Mount Pleasant depot in central London. Six larger (six- and seven and a half-tonne) electric postal vans (also from Arrival) will also be put into action alongside the adorable vans.
According to reports from Independent and The Sun, the electric vehicles can travel up to 161 km on a single charge, and are built from ultra-lightweight materials. Despite that, the vehicles are claimed to be priced the same as diesel trucks, making the switch to electric vehicles that much more enticing, if the lower pollution and noise benefits aren’t enough.
The British government had previously announced in July its intention to ban the sale of new petrol and diesel vehicles by 2040, in a bid to reduce the environmental impact of the internal combustion engine. As such, several manufacturers have announced plans to step up development of electric vehicles to meet this potential ruling.
On a related note, please enjoy this episode of Postman Pat:
Image credits: Transport Executive
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Postman Pat will be a happy Postman.
the ex top gear UK presenters would love to have another race with the Royal Mail. some 10 yrs ago the lost the race (driving Porsche panamera)
despite the lightweight, once it carries a full load of parcels, the weight will definitely increase significantly.. hope not compromise the battery capacity & travelling distance
Use your nasi lemak brain to think izzit?
Fro that comment, ur brain much lower than his. About perigi level low.
so u are saying there is no point being light weight in the first place?
May be u should suggest the post office use an “alien” technology to make all the letters become zero weight so that the van’s light weight will not be “wasted”?
:0 :0 :0
Oh please, the (Brit) milkman has been delivering milk on his electric van (called milk float) for donkey long. Perhaps even earlier than the 1970s.
Where is the antenna of this cute lady bug?
Not needed for operator. All the person will listen to, is the silent electric motors whrrrrrrrrr and gravel kruchhhchhhchhh
Postman Pat and his black and white cat meets the future.
Gerard u sly devil. Did u put up that vid after my comment?