Swiss Post now delivers only electrically in Bern and Zurich

People in Switzerland expect companies like the Post to take sustainability seriously. The Post is also very concrete about the needs of its customers. Smaller and larger companies expect environmentally friendly logistics. The Swiss population also has this need. Companies are expected to package and deliver orders sustainably. For the Post, sustainability is not just a buzzword, but a conviction. And this conviction is followed by actions – for years. As a transport-intensive company with a far-reaching infrastructure, the Post has the highest CO₂ consumption in the areas of vehicles and buildings. That is why it is taking action and has now reached another milestone towards climate-neutral logistics: From now on, the Post will deliver letters and packages in the major cities of Zurich and Bern exclusively with electrically powered vehicles.

Around 40 million packages delivered with electrically powered vehicles

This means that the Post is completely relying on electricity for its own delivery vehicles in the cities of Zurich and Bern. A total of 568 vehicles are now operating purely electrically in these two cities, including 374 electric scooters and 194 electric delivery vehicles. The electricity for the vehicles comes 100 percent from renewable sources in Switzerland. This ensures a more sustainable traffic situation in the cities.

Thanks to the transition, the Post delivers around 40 million packages electrically across Switzerland each year. In the city of Zurich alone, there are 7.9 million packages annually, and in the city of Bern, 3.4 million packages. To make this possible, the Post has gradually equipped the locations with electric vehicles and an electric charging infrastructure. The electric delivery also presents significant challenges for the Post, some of which have been solved and some still exist. One challenge is the limited range, which is associated with additional effort depending on the delivery route. On the other hand, the issue of charging infrastructure also poses a challenge. Depending on whether a building is owned by the Post or rented, the installation can be more or less demanding. Of the approximately 450 delivery points of the Post across Switzerland, around 140 are now fully equipped with charging stations.

Making a statement with commitment to electromobility

For Johannes Cramer, a member of the Executive Board and head of the Logistics Services division of the Post, it is obvious that the Post is making a statement with its commitment to electromobility: “As a company owned by the federal government, the Post also has a role model function. We take this seriously. With the electrification of our delivery fleet and the subsequent resource-saving logistics, our customers can also reduce their CO₂ footprint.” The fact that the Post is only operating electrically in Zurich and Bern is just the beginning: By the end of 2024, the Post will also be fully electric in the cities of Geneva and Basel, as well as at around 50 other locations. The Post uses green electricity that is produced 100 percent from renewable sources in Switzerland. The electric delivery vehicles are even powered by “naturemade star” certified green electricity. By 2030, a total of around 10,500 delivery vehicles across Switzerland will be equipped with electric or other environmentally friendly drive technologies. This means that the Post will deliver letters and packages completely climate-neutrally.

Already the largest electric vehicle fleet in Switzerland

The Post has been working since 2010 to electrify its delivery vehicles. Today, the fleet includes around 7,230 electric vehicles that are in use at all Post locations. This makes the Post already the largest electric vehicle fleet in Switzerland. Since 2017, the approximately 6,000 three-wheeled electric scooters have been 100 percent electric in delivery. Additionally, around 500 four-wheeled electric delivery vehicles are already in use for the delivery of packages and increasingly also for letters. Furthermore, around 650 electric vehicles are in use at the Post in various areas – that is, vehicles that are not used for delivery but, for example, by technicians, towing vehicles, or forklifts. Nearly 4,000 additional delivery vehicles will follow at the Swiss level by no later than 2030. The delivery locations will be gradually equipped with electric vehicles and an electric charging infrastructure.

Photo: © Swiss Post