Paris - December 13th, 2011
La Poste hands workers keys to 10,000 electric vehicles
Jean-Paul Bailly, Chairman and Managing Director of La Poste, unveiled today in Chanteloup-Les-Vignes (78) the first 10 of 10,000 electric vehicles to be deployed by 2015 for the collection and delivery of mail by postal workers throughout France.
Piloted by Jean-Paul Bailly and coordinated by the public procurement organisation, Ugap (Union of Public Purchasing Groups) back in April 2010, this order is the culmination of extensive studies, discussions and an unprecedented tender led by the national purchasing group of electric vehicles. On October 28th of this year, the purchasing group made public its choice of manufacturers: Renault and Peugeot. The first lot, consisting of lightweight commercial vehicles with a load capacity of 3m3, was allocated to Renault, and of the 15,637 Renault Kangoo Z.E.s to be manufactured over the next 4 years, 10,000 will go to La Poste.
Soon to boast over 10,000 cars and several thousands of electric quads between now and 2015, not to mention more than 10,000 electric bicycles, La Poste will be at the helm of one of the most sizeable electric vehicle fleets in the world. The stakes are three-fold: Benchmark green urban logistics, lower fuel emissions per household by 20%, and improve working and workplace conditions for postal employees.
La Poste is industrialising Europe-green transport with a large-scale roll-out of environmentallyfriendly vehicles.
With more than 50,000 vehicles at its disposal, and representing the largest industrial fleet in France, La Poste already has 270 electric vehicles roaming the country. With 1 million kilometres behind it, 300 trained postal workers and a year to look back on the distance covered, the results are encouraging. The car batteries used for morning deliveries of letters and parcels and afternoon collections are charged at night; therefore, zero emissions, easy to use, and minimal manual transmission (only two gears: one forward and one reverse) point to a no-fuss route for postal workers.
This 10,000-electric vehicle order is the culmination of an initiative like none other, whose domino effect over the entire electric vehicle sector has been unanimously-and internationally-recognised. As a result, La Poste has been given a crucial role to play in the emergence of an electric vehicle industrial manufacturing model within France.
Endowed with a full range of eco-friendly cars, La Poste also offers its expertise to companies and communities on the use of green transportation and fuel-efficient driving. After training 60,000 postal workers in green driving, La Poste created MOBIGREEN in 2009, a consulting and training services branch dedicated to green driving for local authorities and corporate fleet administrators. Similarly, given its seasoned experience in car fleet management, La Poste launched GREENOVIA at the start of 2011, a consulting services branch targeting eco-friendly transport and mobility.
La Poste, a truly green urban logistics operator
The acquisition of 10,000 electric vehicles between now and 2015 will enable La Poste to become a reference for green urban logistics operators, and contribute to organisational solutions of tomorrow on the urban freight transport front.
Starting in 2012, more than 1,600 electric cars will be available for postal workers.
To mark its commitment, La Poste will feature new labelling to appear on all electric cars donning the inscription, “closer, greener.” Closer, La Poste and its postal force will be even more so given the arrival of these environmentally-friendly electric vehicles providing “hassle-free” access to city centres, a boost toward becoming a leading name in urban logistics, and stronger customer ties. Greener, La Poste’s transport offering will be even more so with its zero fuel emission vehicles, whose widespread use will greatly contribute to reducing noise pollution in cities.
Better postal working conditions leaving others green with envy
Developed with mail delivery in mind alongside the smooth and quiet drive inherent in electric cars, green vehicles offer many advantages to postal workers and their working environment. Similarly, highly manoeuvrable, electric quadricycles are ideal for city centre driving. Lastly, electric bicycles or e-bikes, which make for an easy swap with motorised two-wheelers, ease up on muscles whilst out on rounds.
A range of green transport
The range deployed by La Poste uses 3 types of electric vehicles: cars, quads and bicycles and two other types of green transport namely double-deck lorries and rail freight. Goal: 70% of rounds aboard electric vehicles.
• 10,000 ELECTRIC CARS BY 2015
Deployment: At present, 270 electric cars may already be seen circulating, and 10,000 Renault Kangoo Z.E.s, of which over 1,600 as early as 2012, designed for the collection and delivery of mail by postal workers in all of France, are scheduled to make their debut by 2015.
Use: 60-km minimum range for postal use (which equals around 160 km in normal use).
Environmental labelling to promote green transport amongst the general public
closer: Closer, La Poste and its postal force will be even more so given the arrival of these environmentallyfriendly electric vehicles providing “hassle-free” access to city centres, a boost toward becoming a leading name in urban logistics, and stronger customer ties.
greener: Greener, La Poste’s transport offering will be even more so with its zero fuel emission vehicles, whose widespread use will greatly contribute to reducing noise pollution in cities.
• SEVERAL THOUSANDS OF ELECTRIC QUADS DOWN THE ROAD
=> Deployment:
210 specially-designed electric quads for postal workers are already in circulation. Several thousands will be rolled out in the future, of which over 1,000 in 2012.
=> Use:
Electric quads are likely to replace motorised 2-wheelers, or in certain cases, 4-wheel combustion options. Their design and use suit city and suburban zones as well as pedestrian zones where internal combustion vehicles are not permitted.
Vehicle autonomy is around 20 kilometres for intense postal use, and can transport up to 150 kg of mail.
• 10,000 ELECTRIC BICYCLES
=> Deployment:
La Poste has made 10,000 electric bicycles available to its postal force. Power assistance can absorb up to 80% of required effort. One out of every two cycling postal workers has an electric bike.
=> Use:
20-km range for intense postal use. E-bikes keep postal workers with reduced ability in their jobs, and assist them on their delivery rounds, especially in hilly terrain. E-bikes represent an alternative to motorised 2-wheelers.
• 14 DOUBLE-DECK TRAILERS
=> Deployment:
14 double-deck trailers are already in circulation, and have replaced 28 classic articulated lorries.
=> Use:
With two levels at their disposal, these lorries optimise mail loading, and present less of a hazard due to decreased presence on the road. Double-deck trailers cut fuel emissions by a third. Equipped with tractor units bearing the Euro 5 label (a European standard measuring pollutant emissions), they are gradually taking over classic articulated lorries.
Once the containers are loaded, the floor is raised halfway using a remote control to make way for a second set of containers.
• Railways, certain connections facilitate mail transport
Railways denote a means of transport used regularly by La Poste, which resorts to rail freight for the routes of Lille-Lyon, Lille-Bordeaux and Lille-Marseille.
Looking ahead, 2 billion pieces of unsolicited mail per annum could eventually be concerned by this means of transport.
Green driving: La Poste directs traffic, postal workers in the driver’s seat
La Poste, first European business to lead colossal training
La Poste already has 60,000 postal workers at the wheel of its green driving initiative. Green driving offers very simple rules to follow for greater fuel efficiency, and therefore, lower fuel emissions. The training targets a serious cutback in fuel emissions by 10,000 tonnes per annum and fuel savings of 5 million litres each year.
Green driving also applies to electric cars and in optimising their autonomy. The 10,000 electric car motorists will also be trained in green driving.
5 rules to remember about green driving and electric vehicles
- Check tyre pressure each month
- Pre-heat or pre-cool the car interior, enabling postal workers to get a jumpstart on a climate-friendly environment
- Pay attention to the blue zone of the econometre display to maximise autonomy or recharge the battery
- Adopt steady driving behaviour and a moderate pace, and respect safety distances
- Drive defensively, and anticipate other motorists’ and pedestrians’ manoeuvres.
5 rules to remember about green driving and internal combustion vehicles
- Drive in the highest possible gear with the lowest possible tachometer reading
- Accelerate by depressing the pedal 3/4 before releasing pressure and stabilising speed
- Shift quickly to the next gear (between 2,000 and 2,500 RPMs); late downshift
- Drive defensively; do not accelerate, brake or change gears unnecessarily
- Turn off the engine if idle for longer than 12 seconds.
Two sectors devoted to green driving and sustainable mobility
Endowed with a full range of eco-friendly cars, La Poste also offers its expertise to companies and communities on the use of green transportation and fuel-efficient driving.
• A branch devoted to promoting green driving
After training 60,000 postal workers in green driving, La Poste created MOBIGREEN in 2009,a consulting and training services branch dedicated to green driving for local authorities and corporate fleet administrators. Similarly, given its seasoned experience in car fleet management, La Poste launched GREENOVIA at the start of 2011, a consulting services branch targeting eco-friendly transport and mobility.
To capitalise on its skills and competencies gained in the field, La Poste created MOBIGREEN, a branch devoted to promoting green driving amongst those actors whom the training is likely to impact, such as corporate fleet managers, large companies, local authorities, etc.
A consulting services branch specialising in eco-responsible transport and mobility
With solid footing in car fleet management relating primarily to its MAIL operations, La Poste created GREENOVIA. This branch offers not only its expertise to companies wishing to create, develop or optimise their car fleets, but also insight and answers on social, environmental and economic issues.
Whether optimising management of an existing fleet, implant electric vehicles on a large scale, or research and develop a fleet of innovative and carbon-free vehicles, GREENOVIA’s consultants and technical experts are at your service wherever you may be in France.
- For fleet users, GREENOVIA offers advice and engineering solutions with the aim of optimising and transforming a vehicle fleet.
- For automotive service providers, GREENOVIA offers studies and consulting solutions with the aim of developing new services as well as real-time and real-life electric vehicle testing, including sale of those results.
