AN MP has praised the addition of fully electric vans at Royal Mail’s delivery office in Northwich.

In time, 38 of the 50 Northwich-based vans will be electric, charged on site using 100 per cent green tariff electricity.

Weaver Vale MP Mike Amesbury recently visited the delivery office where he learned the transition to electric will reduce air pollution as well as decarbonising the operation.

Mr Amesbury, who did a test drive in one of the new EVs, said: “Fabulous to see Royal Mail rolling-out all electric, eco-friendly vans at Northwich delivery office and across the country.

“Making Weaver Vale greener is a top priority and this investment is very welcome.

Northwich Guardian: An electric charging pointAn electric charging point (Image: Supplied)

“I would also urge the company to invest in its workers who are currently asking for a fair deal in terms of pay and working conditions in a national dispute.

“They're a great bunch of people serving our community in all weathers.”

Northwich will be a part-electric site due to space constraints, with a maximum 10 double socket charging points installed.

The investment is part of Royal Mail’s wider rollout of 3,000 electric vans to delivery offices across the UK, with plans to introduce a further 2,500 electric vehicles by spring 2023.

EVs can travel up to 130 miles in-between charges, depending on vehicle type, weather and load-size. 

And with lower maintenance requirements, the electric fleet promises more on-road time and higher levels of reliability.

Northwich Guardian: Mike Amesbury with some of the Northwich Royal Mail teamMike Amesbury with some of the Northwich Royal Mail team (Image: Supplied)

The new vans feature up to 38 per cent larger load space than the vehicles they replaced, ideal for handling growing parcel volumes.

Steve Parry, customer operations manager at Northwich Delivery Office, said: “It’s been great to have the opportunity to be leading the way in the rollout of Royal Mail’s new electric fleet. 

“The new vans will be become a familiar site on the streets of Northwich and our posties are really excited about doing their bit to reduce air and noise pollution in the town.”

Royal Mail already claims the lowest reported emissions per parcel among major UK delivery companies, with its 90,000-plus network of postmen and women, which combines on-foot delivery with low mileage van movements.