Royal Mail testing nice-looking EV vans

[botsapper]

British Mail are trying smart electric trucks designed by Arrival Limited - a Banbury UK, engineering and manufacturing company, designing range-extended electric powertrains for commercial vehicles ranging from 3.5, 6 and 7 metric ton GVW (originally Charge Automotive). Royal Mail, is now a public limited company. Director Paul Gatti says, "We have trialed electric trucks before but not of this type of innovative design," Gatti says, "and look forward to see what additional benefits they can bring to our existing fleet of around 49,000 vehicles." They are also autonomous-ready when UK's legislation approves their use on public roads.

Compact, clean and nice design;

Arrival

https://www.engadget.com/2017/08/23/...electric-vans/

[NeilBlanchard]

Cool!

[jamesqf]

Ugly, but if they work, who cares how they look?

[JockoT]

The liveried vans look better.



Better than Postman Pat's.

[Fingie]

as ugly as any stepvan IMO.

[Frank Lee]

Tough crowd! What does a good-looking step van look like?

I like 'em. With a tail, would make a nice RV.

[Daschicken]

Of all vehicles, mail trucks (trains and buses too) would be the most deserving of ev'ing. A ridiculous amount of stopping and starting, I just don't understand why mail trucks are not at least hybrids around here. Instead our mail trucks are the ever ugly Grumman LLV's with their outdated 2.5L I4 Iron duke engines.

[cRiPpLe_rOoStEr]

Originally Posted by Daschicken

Of all vehicles, mail trucks (trains and buses too) would be the most deserving of ev'ing. A ridiculous amount of stopping and starting, I just don't understand why mail trucks are not at least hybrids around here. Instead our mail trucks are the ever ugly Grumman LLV's with their outdated 2.5L I4 Iron duke engines.

I actually don't dislike the looks of the Grumman LLV, even though something lighter and eventually more aerodynamic could be desirable. But anyway, let's suppose that an eventual next-generation of dedicated parcel-delivery vehicles similar to the LLV could be fitted with the drivetrain of the Camry Hybrid, front-wheel drive would not just decrease the weight penalty inherent to the hybrid drivetrain but also allow a lower loading deck and increase the internal volume while not interfering with the overall dimensions.

[JockoT]

Our local NHS service are replacing their smaller vans with the Nissan e-NV200 (Leaf), like these ones that Northumberia Trust are using.

[jamesqf]

Originally Posted by Daschicken

I just don't understand why mail trucks are not at least hybrids around here. Instead our mail trucks are the ever ugly Grumman LLV's with their outdated 2.5L I4 Iron duke engines.

Potential savings from EV/hybrid less than cost of maintaining existing fleet? Does the Post Office even buy new ones?

It's kind of like the Irish post boxes: after independence, they just painted them green. There are still ones dating from Edward VII. And per Google, even Victoria.