Deutsche Post DHL is testing ten new Volkswagen Caddy blue-e-motion commercial vehicles on mail delivery routes in Germany
The electric urban delivery vehicles will be in operation from July to September in Potsdam and from the delivery depot in Stahnsdorf
The fleet test is focusing on battery innovation, handling, range and safety of the nearly noiseless vehicles
Deutsche Post DHL has about 20,000 Caddy delivery vans deployed around Germany, around 80% of which always travel the same route and that is not longer than 50 km On these stop-and-start routes, these vehicles only reach an average speed of 5 km/h
According to VW, with maximum load, the Caddy uses 35 litres of fuel per 100 km when used for delivery, the vans typically burn about 10 litres of fuel per 100 km Converted to the equivalent fuel consumption, the electricity that a Caddy blue-e-motion consumes is 2 litres per 100 km
With 85kW lithium ion batteries and a maximum speed of 120 km/h, the Caddy blue-e-motion’s range is 110 km While its payload is about 230 kg less than a traditional Caddy (550 kg) due to the batteries housed under the floor, the loading volume remains the same at 42 m3
Charging stations have been installed at the mail depots where the vehicle batteries are recharged overnight
The test is part of project "EmiL" funded by the Federal Ministry for the Environment, Nature, Conservation & Nuclear Safety part of a wider support program on electro mobility, the project is supported by €100 million by the Ministry
Deutsche Post DHL is also working with a number of other vehicle manufacturers in a series of tests on commercial vehicles in everyday operations in order to gain important insights into the use of renewable fuels and alternative vehicle drive systems
Deutsche Post DHL currently operates around 3,000 vehicles that use hybrid or electric drives, burn alternative fuels or have modified engine electronics and aerodynamic systems
