Ford and DHL team up to build electric delivery van

In a bid to reduce emissions, Ford has teamed up with German logistics company DHL to develop an electric delivery van.

Based on a Ford Transit, the StreetScooter Work XL features an all-electric drivetrain and a body designed specifically for DHL. The drivetrain can deliver up to 90kWh, with a maximum range of 124 miles.

It will be built in Aachen at DHL’s StreetScooter plant —the German company’s factory for its current fleet of vehicles.

In 2017, 150 vans will be built. Plans are in place to have 2,500 produced by the end of next year.

The StreetScooter Work XL will be added to DHL’s fleet of urban parcel delivery vehicles, as well as being sold to third-party customers.

Ford says each Work XL could save around 1,900 litres of diesel and reduce CO₂ emissions by five tonnes annually.

Steven Armstrong, group vice president and president of Ford for Europe, Middle East & Africa, said: “We’re really proud of this ambitious project, and of the strong partnership we’ve developed with Deutsche Post DHL Group and StreetScooter.

“This joint project will be Europe’s largest manufacturer of emission-free, medium-sized e-vans, and it doesn’t come a moment too soon.

“Buses, cars, and of course, delivery vans play vital roles in our daily lives, but we have to find a way to make them cleaner. This project is a great step along this path.”