Evri Unveils £19 Million Investment to Supercharge the UK's Largest Pedal-Powered Delivery Fleet

Evri, a leading delivery firm, has mapped out an ambitious plan to deploy 3,000 e-cargo bikes within the next decade while expanding its electric vehicle (EV) fleet to 270 vehicles within the next year, infusing a substantial £19 million into the emerging e-cargo bike market.

This bold investment marks a significant leap as Evri aims to triple its e-cargo bike fleet from 33 to 99 and increase its EV fleet from 168 to 270 within the coming year. The company's long-term vision includes deploying 3,000 e-cargo bikes over the next ten years, aligning with its target to achieve net-zero emissions by 2035.

Evri has launched a dedicated "final-mile electrification taskforce" to expedite this transition. This team is tasked with spearheading innovative solutions, forging partnerships, and executing strategies to convert last-mile deliveries into a zero-emission operation.

Currently, Evri operates e-cargo bikes in cities such as London, Bristol, Oxford, and Cambridge. These bikes and EVs deliver 1.5 million parcels, a considerable portion of the company's 720 million annual deliveries.

However, Evri's ambitions don't stop there. The firm aims to triple the number of electric deliveries in the UK, aiming for around four million within the following year. Each e-cargo bike, with a capacity of approximately 2,000 liters, can deliver around 110 parcels per trip. According to Evri, each parcel delivered by e-cargo bike could result in a carbon saving of up to 250g.

Delivering four million parcels annually via e-cargo bikes could equate to carbon emission savings comparable to driving over 400,000 miles. This shift would also alleviate air and noise pollution and ease road congestion.

In its latest ESG report, Evri disclosed that it emitted an average of 370g of CO2 per parcel in the past financial year, reflecting a 21% reduction from the previous year.

"Pedal power will rev up our efforts to reimagine parcel deliveries in the UK as we aim to become the biggest operator of e-cargo bikes in the sector," said Evri CEO Martijn De Lange. "We achieved a nine percent decrease in carbon emissions since last year. The £19m investment announced today will lay the groundwork for Evri to dial up on its ambition to become the UK's most sustainable parcel carrier."

The company has also unveiled plans to phase out diesel vehicles from its ParcelShop and SME collection routes. To achieve this, Evri will add 148 electric vehicles (EVs) to its fleet in time for the busy Christmas period this year, with an additional 122 slated to join in spring 2025. These commitments are projected to result in electric vans handling over half of Evri's ParcelShop drop-offs and collections.

To support this growing fleet of EVs, Evri will continue to expand its EV charging infrastructure, backed by a £1 million investment across its depot network and hubs.

This latest initiative builds on Evri's previous investments in renewable energy sources. Currently, more than half of its first-mile fleet is powered by renewable bio-methane compressed gas, which the company claims reduces carbon emissions by up to 84%. Additionally, Evri employs alternative fuels like hydrotreated vegetable oil (HVO) at its Brooklands depot.

"Evri is committed to making a positive impact on the environment and delivering a sustainable future," said Pauline Potter, director of procurement and sustainability at Evri. "Our multi-year ESG plans represent a significant leap forward, and we are confident that these initiatives will propel us towards our net zero goal.

"We are not just investing in technology, but also in our people, empowering them to be part of the solution. Together, we can build a more sustainable future for the parcel delivery industry, as well as the communities we serve."