Deutsche Post subsidiary StreetScooter and Ford have formed a partnership to manufacture electric delivery vehicles.

StreetScooter has already developed a small electric van with a 20.4 kWh battery pack, a 30 kW motor and a top speed of 50 mph. Deutsche Post now has 2,500 StreetScooters in operation throughout Germany, and is also beginning to deliver vehicles to outside buyers.

The two partners will develop a larger vehicle, based on the chassis of the Ford Transit. They plan to begin production in July, and to deploy at least 2,500 vehicles with Deutsche Post DHL Group before the end of 2018.

Production of the existing StreetScooter will also be significantly expanded. StreetScooter GmbH is planning to manufacture 20,000 units per year at its facilities in Aachen and in North Rhine-Westphalia.

“I consider this partnership another important boost for electro-mobility in Germany,” says Deutsche Post Board Member Jürgen Gerdes. “This step emphasizes that Deutsche Post is an innovation leader. It will relieve the inner cities and increase the people’s quality of life.”

“E-Mobility and innovative traffic solutions for urban areas are key focuses for us as we transform our business to meet future challenges,” says Ford VP Steven Armstrong. “As the leader in commercial vehicles in Europe, this partnership plays perfectly to our strengths, and in the Deutsche Post DHL Group we have a partner with enormous competence and a worldwide network.”

Source: Deutsche Post via Green Car Congress