Universal Courier Logistical Services has taken on 33 Renault Trucks E-Tech Master L3 H2 panel vans.
The vehicles will support a new zero-emission home delivery contract across Newcastle, Manchester, Sheffield and Leeds. The order increases UCLS’s electric fleet to 48, with the business targeting the electrification of more than half of its 600 vehicles by 2030.
Ricky Sharma, managing director at UCLS, said: “We want to be ahead of the market. We’re brave, we’re learning and we’re always exploring more opportunities for electric vehicles. This investment is just the beginning of our decarbonisation journey.” UCLS currently operates 700 final-mile routes each day, with the new retail contract requiring the use of zero-emission vehicles.
The E-Tech Masters feature an 87kW battery, delivering a WLTP range of more than 285 miles and rapid charging from 15-80% in 30 minutes. The vans will be charged overnight at UCLS depots and run in two-person delivery teams, with Sharma expecting them to complete full shifts without requiring mid-route charging.
Sharma added: “We need about 1.1 tonnes of payload, and up to 230 miles on a single charge. The new version of the E-Tech Master can do just that.”
