Canada Post launching electric vehicle trial in Ottawa as it works to reduce environmental footprint
Posted Jun 10, 2022 02:27:00 PM.
As part of its commitment to reduce its environmental footprint, Canada Post is set to launch a low-speed vehicle trial in Ottawa.
The company showcased the new low emission electric vehicle at a Canada Post depot in Ottawa on Thursday, June 9, saying it reaches maximum speeds of 40 kilometres per hour and will be used for delivery and collection for a trial period of one year on a postal route covering neighbourhoods west of downtown.
The move is part of Canada Post's $1-billion commitment to reach net-zero emissions by 2050.
Canada Post admits its current footprint is significant with nearly 14,000 vehicles and Canada's largest retail network of close to 6,000 post offices. The corporation says it plans to transform its fleet to non-emitting transportation, with commitments to reach a 50 per cent electric fleet by 2030 and be fully electric by 2040.
“We have a responsibility to Canadians, and to their children and grandchildren, to help lead the way to a more sustainable future,” said president and chief executive officer Doug Ettinger in a release. “Canada Post has one of the biggest fleets in the country, over 68,000 employees, a significant real estate portfolio, and an extensive supply chain. The challenge ahead is great, and we know the greening of our transportation is critical.”
In May 2022, Canada Post unveiled a net-zero parcel sorting facility in Scarborough that will have the capacity to process more than one million packages a day. Set to open in 2023, the $470-million Albert Jackson Processing Centre will be the largest industrial project in Canada with the Zero Carbon Building Standard designation.
