Purolator brings fully electric curbside delivery vehicles to Vancouver

Since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, many Vancouverites have turned to their smartphones and laptops to conduct shopping online — whether for groceries, apparel, furniture, or tools to complete their next home reno.

It comes as no surprise, then, that Canadian-owned courier Purolator has seen residential deliveries grow by approximately 50%, giving rise to an increase in demand for its transportation and courier services.

If this surge in demand meant that deliveries would only be made in gasoline-powered trucks, there could be a cause for concern — 35% of greenhouse gas emissions in Metro Vancouver came from on-road transportation in 2019. But the City is actively working to reduce emissions in pursuit of becoming the greenest city in the world.

To support a greener future, Purolator has expanded its fleet of zero-emission vehicles to more locations throughout the country, including introducing all-electric curbside delivery trucks and electric-cargo bikes here in Vancouver.

Purolator

The aforementioned move saw Purolator become the first national courier to deploy fully electric delivery vehicles on Canada’s streets. Not only will the all-electric vehicles reduce truck traffic and noise pollution, but it’ll concurrently lower greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by 24 metric tons per year — per vehicle.

Purolator is also the first company in Canada to collaborate with Motiv Power Systems. The courier’s new electric delivery vehicles in Vancouver are built on Ford’s F-59 platform and electrified by Motiv’s EPIC F-59 chassis — a market-leading platform for delivery vans.

“At Purolator, we’re committed to adapting intelligently and providing sustainable solutions for the unique challenges of urban growth, the rise of e-commerce and unprecedented volumes of home deliveries,” John Ferguson, President and CEO at Purolator, said in a press release.

Purolator

Already, Purolator has a fleet of innovative vehicles in use on the streets of Montreal and Toronto, including e-bikes and low-speed vehicles (LSVs). The Vancouver launch is an expansion of this fleet, bringing five 18’ electric delivery trucks and four electric-cargo bikes (e-bikes) to the city.

“Transforming our infrastructure and fleet is one of the key focus areas of our growth and innovation strategy, and a cornerstone of our commitment to reduce our environmental footprint,” Ferguson added.

Purolator

Purolator is preparing for the years ahead by continuing to introduce new types of advanced technology vehicles to its existing fleet of 315 hybrid-electric vehicles, nine electric-cargo bikes, and three low-speed electric vehicles.

The courier has served local and international customers for nearly six decades, and the organization hopes to work towards net-zero emissions by 2050 — an objective outlined in its recent Corporate Social Responsibility Report.

To learn more about Purolator and shipping with the courier, visit purolator.com.