SingPost to deploy electric vans and electric three wheel scooters in stages.
This is the first postal service in Asia-Pacific to commit to a 100 percent electric delivery fleet. This is not some MOU or MoA signing ceremony that makes a statement that never turns into reality. This is a firm commitment and it shows the way forward for Singapore to lowering their emissions.
We did mention in a recent article this July that delivery vans and the postal service should be initial adopters of electric vehicles. Next should be ride hailing and the private package delivery service providers.
In Germany, as far back as 2016, Deutsche Post DHL already made the move to electric powered delivery vans. Why is Malaysia still lagging behind?
PRESS RELEASE: Singapore Post Limited (SingPost) has just announced that it is commencing pilots of fully electric three-wheeler scooters and vans, with a view to replacing all of its current internal combustion counterparts in its postal service and Speedpost delivery fleet with fully electric versions by 2026
SingPost intends to progressively switch its entire internal combustion engine fleet of more than 700 motorcycles and three-wheeler scooters, as well as 140 vans to electric motor equivalents as their COEs expire over the next five years, making SingPost the first postal service in the Asia-Pacific region to commit to a 100% electric delivery fleet.
“As Singapore’s leading last-mile and postal service provider, our delivery vehicles traverse the length and breadth of the nation every day. There is tremendous potential for us to do better for the planet. By converting our delivery fleet to a fully electric one, we will be delivering a greener Singapore for everyone,” said Vincent Phang, CEO of Postal Services and Singapore.
Welcoming the pilot, Mr Tan Kiat How, Minister of State for the Ministry of Communications and Information and Ministry of National Development, said, “The COVID-19 pandemic has accelerated the shift towards e-commerce, and the postal sector would need to evolve its business model and service offerings to cope with the surge in parcel volumes.
In this regard, I welcome SingPost’s electric vehicles trial and its ambition towards a fully electric delivery fleet, in support of Singapore Green Plan 2030. This shows SingPost’s commitment to environmental sustainability, and as well as its continued investment to better meet the evolving postal needs of our people and businesses.”
From today, SingPost will commence live pilots for the IONA RAP three-wheeler, a fully electric scooter approved (pictured above) by the LTA that is being considered as an option to replace the company’s existing motorcycles.
Two of these three-wheeler scooters will be plying the Anson Road-Shenton Way route, and the Emerald Hill-Cairnhill route respectively. They will be wrapped in a distinctive green livery, a marked departure from the deep blue hue of SingPost’s other vehicles. The scooters emit roughly 75% less greenhouse gases compared to their internal combustion engine equivalents.
In addition to lowering greenhouse gas emissions, operational efficiency and safety is also improved with the following features:
- 120-kilometre driving range per full charge. Postmen travel an average of around 15- 20km per day.
- 50kg carrying load, with a maximum cargo volume of 500 litres. This compares favourably to the 462-litre cargo volume of our current fuel-consuming three- wheelers, and 164-litre cargo volume of our motorcycles.
- Asynchronous electric motor adapted to frequent starts and stops due to the nature of delivery work.
- Stable cargo box with minimal swaying or tilting even when the scooter is turning.
The IONA RAP will be joined by the BYD T3 electric van, two of which will be deployed today as well. The BYD T3 van has a range of 300km per full charge, with a maximum cargo volume of 3,800 litres, and is distributed by ST Engineering Mobility Services. The vans are expected to emit roughly 50% less greenhouse gases as compared to their petrol-fuelled equivalents.
SingPost is also in talks with various distributors to replace its heavy vehicle fleet with electric trucks and will make an assessment once conditions are favourable.
By converting to a fully electric delivery fleet, SingPost is doing its part as a socially responsible corporate by utilising lower-carbon, cleaner vehicles to reduce its greenhouse gas footprint.
As its motorcycle and van fleets are progressively replaced, the Post and Parcel division, as well as SingPost as a whole, expects to see corresponding drops in fuel consumption and greenhouse gas emissions.
SingPost’s electric delivery fleet conversion is in line with its “Planet Positive” pillar of its sustainability strategy. The Group continues to look at green initiatives in its fleet management including innovative solutions to optimise fleet route and encouraging fuel- saving driving habits.
SingPost has committed to a 35% reduction in absolute greenhouse gas emissions from FY2018/19 levels by FY2029/30.
To meet its target, SingPost has implemented several initiatives including the replacement of all light fittings with LED lamps across all SingPost sites and the planned installation of solar photovoltaic systems at its larger buildings.
