The British delivery company confirmed the update in a recent social media announcement
The Royal Mail has confirmed a new change to how it makes deliveries across parts of the UK. Customers in certain areas of the country will likely notice the update this month as they go about their day.
Taking to social media to share the news, Royal Mail uploaded a video to let Brits know about its new Electric Cargo Cycles. The delivery company announced it is deploying the environmentally-friendly vehicles as part of its Net-Zero goals. Royal Mail customers in a handful of UK cities will spot the newly launched cargo cycles from August – a change from the usual Royal Mail vans.
In the caption of the video Royal Mail shared recently, it said: “We’ve launched our first Electric Cargo Cycles, expanding what is already the UK’s largest electric delivery fleet. The first 20 Minimal Pedal 4 Cycles will be deployed this month in cities including London, Brighton and Cambridge, with plans to roll out to further locations in the future.”
The Royal said the cycles are manufactured at Minimal’s microfactory in West London. It adds: “Their introduction marks another step towards our target of achieving Net-Zero by 2040.”
In the video, a Royal Mail staff member explained: “The new pedal 4 cycles can travel up to 37 miles on a single charge, and charge from a standard plug socket. They’ll help reduce emissions and improve air quality in the communities we serve, while creating new opportunities for people to join Royal Mail.”
The cargo cycles are expected to also help speed up deliveries. As postal workers won’t need to share vans and can have their own cargo cycles, it is hoped this will streamline their day-to-day duties.
The cargo cycles can be used on roads with a speed limit of 30mph or lower, as well as on bike lanes, paths, and greenways. Postal workers won’t need a driving license to operate one, making Royal Mail jobs accessible to a wider range of people.
According to Mark Riley, Delivery Design Manager at Royal Mail, the introduction of electric cargo cycles is a key milestone in the company’s efforts to achieve net zero emissions by 2040. These vehicles are expected to enhance delivery efficiency, reduce emissions, and improve local air quality, while also creating employment opportunities for those without a driver’s license.
The new cargo cycles come as the Royal Mail announced a “major milestone” on Thursday (August 6). In a post shared on social media, the delivery company said: “Our 9,000th electric van has officially joined the fleet, helping us deliver letters and parcels with fewer emissions.
“With nearly a third of our delivery routes now zero-emission and 44 delivery offices operating fully electric fleets, we’re continuing to invest in a more sustainable future. 9,000 electric vans. UK’s largest electric delivery fleet. Working towards Net-Zero by 2040.”
