With 4,000 electric vehicles, Austrian Post already operates the largest e-vehicle fleet in Austria. Around 1,000 more electric vans will be added in 2025, acquired with support from the FFG’s zero emission commercial vehicles and infrastructure programme ENIN.
The transport sector offers Österreichische Post AG the greatest scope to avoid and reduce its CO2 emissions. Austrian Post delivers 5 billion items to around 4.8 million companies and private households in Austria every year. “We are proud to have launched our carbon-neutral delivery programme 13 years ago,” says CFO Walter Oblin. “Our delivery vehicles are key to achieving this goal, and we have set ourselves the task of removing the last conventionally powered delivery vehicle from our fleet by 2030. With our 4,000 electric vehicles – the largest electric fleet in the country by far – we are now well advanced along this path.”
1,000 new e-vans plus charging infrastructure
In 2025, around 1,000 new class N1 (less than 3.5 tonnes) electric parcel vans will be added to the fleet, and the charging infrastructure expanded to reach a total of 1,000 charging stations. The necessary funding is provided by the EU’s Recovery and Resilience Facility together with funds from the Austrian Ministry of Climate Action, jointly administered by the FFG’s ENIN programme (zero emission commercial vehicles and infrastructure).
The background to the programme: The share of zero emission commercial vehicles in Austria remains very low, amounting to only 0.65% in 2020. One reason is the higher cost of zero emission commercial vehicles and associated infrastructure compared to conventional commercial vehicles. Consequently, the aim of the FFG’s ENIN programme is to significantly increase the share of zero emission commercial vehicles. By simultaneously powering them via renewables, this can drastically reduce emissions.
11,700 tonnes of CO2 to be saved in five years
Over the next five years, Austrian Post expects to save more than 11,700 tonnes of CO2, simply by switching 1,000 more parcel vans to electric vehicles. As well as local reductions in carbon emissions, zero emission delivery also reduces pollution and noise, helping to improve quality of life in built up areas.
Innovation as a response to the challenge of decarbonisation
“New solutions will always be needed to turn a company with 10,000 vehicles and 20,000 employees into a sustainable, decarbonised system,” says Walter Oblin. “The answer is innovation, plus perseverance. That’s why it’s very important to have partners such as the FFG who are prepared to support technologies in their early stages when they are still far from being economically viable, and help make these technologies ready for market.”
Österreichische Post AG with its fleet of e-vehicles is a national pioneer in sustainable logistics. “I’m proud that sustainability is an issue anchored firmly in the hearts and minds of so many of our employees,” says CFO Walter Oblin. “Sustainability has become part of Austrian Post’s DNA.”