All-electric van fleet revs up for Christmas by doubling drivers

ABERMONDSEY-based parcel delivery company is looking to challenge traditional couriers with its fleet of electric vehicles as it aims to more than double its number of drivers in the run-up to Christmas.

- Rhiannon Curry

Packfleet, which operates from a railway arch in South-East London, uses all-electric vans and promises to pay its workers a decent rate with proper employment benefits, which it says sets it apart from other firms.

It currently operates 25 electric vans with the same number of drivers, delivering parcels for small and medium businesses across the Greater London area.

Over an average route with around 100 drops, a van powered by petrol or diesel emits around 20kg of CO₂ each day. In comparison, an electric van produces no CO₂ as it drives, but charging it would produce some if the electricity is generated by fossil fuels.

However, Packfleet uses green electricity from a renewable provider at its depot, effectively reducing emissions from its fleet to zero.

Co-founder and chief executive Tristan Thomas, previously vice president of marketing at challenger bank Monzo, says the company intends to expand into new UK cities in the first half of 2023, and into European markets in the coming years.