The UK’s Royal Mail has agreed to purchase 100 Peugeot Partner L2 Electric vans, to be used as delivery vehicles. The vans will go into service from December 2017 at delivery offices around the UK, supported by a rollout of charging infrastructure.

This is the first major fleet order for the Partner L2 Electric, which was launched in February.

The Partner L2 Electric has a gross payload of 552 kg (1,217 lbs). The 22.5 kWh lithium-ion battery pack is fitted under the load floor – Peugeot says there is no loss of load space compared with legacy Partner L2 models. Range is 106 miles (on the NEDC cycle).

A permanent-magnet synchronous motor produces 49 kW (67 hp) at 4,000 rpm, and maximum torque of 200 N·m. The front wheels are driven through a speed reducer and single-ratio gearbox.

“With electric vehicles firmly on the agenda this week, there couldn’t be a better time to announce this landmark deal with the Royal Mail,” says PSA Group Fleet Director Martin Gurney. “The order was won after Royal Mail carried out trials with the Partner Electric.”

“Our research has shown that electric vans are a good operational fit with our business and we are delighted to be ordering such a large volume to use in our daily operations,” said Paul Gatti, Royal Mail Fleet Director. “Emissions are an important issue for us at Royal Mail and we are continuously looking at new and innovative ways to reduce our carbon footprint and our impact on air quality.”

Source: PSA via Green Car Congress