Australia Post is ramping up its national fleet modernisation with the rollout of 500 new electric delivery vehicles, reinforcing its commitment to safer, more sustainable and efficient parcel deliveries.
The new three-wheeled Rapide 3 marks a significant upgrade to Australia Post's delivery operations, offering improved safety performance and handling, enhanced productivity and speed, and the ability to tackle more challenging terrain.
Capable of reaching speeds of 80 km/h and covering up to 180km on a single charge, the Rapide 3 can carry up to 150 small parcels, which is a staggering 400% increase in capacity over the outgoing Honda motorbike. This boost in efficiency enables Posties to deliver more in fewer trips, getting parcels to customers sooner.
Australia Post Group Chief Executive Officer and Managing Director, Paul Graham said this was a significant investment towards future-proofing sustainable operations.
"This rollout is part of a broader transformation as we build the Australia Post of the future, one that is safer, more sustainable and ready to meet the changing needs of our customers.
"We've been investing in electric delivery vehicles for over a decade, and we're proud to operate Australia's largest electric delivery vehicle fleet.
"By continuing to invest in an electric fleet, new technology and smarter infrastructure, we're laying the foundations for a delivery network that can support our communities for decades to come," Mr Graham said.
Built for Australian conditions and with safety at the forefront, the Rapide 3 offers enhanced stability and manoeuvrability, and is engineered with an integrated canopy and windshield for improved on-road protection and comfort.
Electric delivery vehicles now travel more than 29 million kilometres annually across the Australia Post network and play a vital role in the organisation's path in targeting Net Zero emissions by 2050.
The latest rollout is supported by purpose-built charging infrastructure at more than 37 sites nationwide, with on-site recharging available at the end of each delivery round. All 500 Rapide 3 vehicles will be deployed across the network to support the upcoming Peak period, with training already underway to assist Posties with the transition.
