Austria’s largest electric fleet continues to grow before Christmas: Austrian Post recently put its 6,000th electric vehicle into service. This Fiat e-Scudo will be used in Vienna as part of the transition to fully electric deliveries. The milestone of 6,000 electric vehicles was celebrated together with Federal Minister for Economic Affairs Wolfgang Hattmannsdorfer, Vienna’s Mayor Michael Ludwig, Austrian Post CEO Walter Oblin, and Deputy CEO Peter Umundum, Board Member for Parcel & Logistics.
Wolfgang Hattmannsdorfer, Federal Minister for Economic Affairs, Energy and Tourism, stated: “The logistics sector across Europe is under immense pressure to change – many postal companies are struggling with rising costs, high parcel volumes, and the necessary ecological transformation. It is all the more remarkable that Austrian Post has reached a new milestone in this environment with 6,000 electric vehicles. As a company with state participation, Austrian Post is demonstrating its commitment to a strong economic base – and to the shared goal of working together for economic growth.”
Michael Ludwig, Mayor of Vienna: “For years, Vienna has stood for climate protection, a high quality of life, and a strong economic base. The fact that the postal service is now putting its 6,000th electric vehicle into operation in our city sends a powerful signal: modern mobility makes Vienna cleaner, quieter, and even more livable. I thank everyone involved who is consistently pursuing this path and thus making an important contribution to sustainable and economically viable development.”
Walter Oblin, CEO of Austrian Post AG: “With 6,000 electric vehicles, we are sending a strong signal for the reduction of emissions in the logistics sector. For us, electromobility is not a trend, but a key component of our strategy to deliver the last mile entirely on foot, by bicycle, or by electric vehicles by 2030. In doing so, we are contributing to climate protection and demonstrating how ecological responsibility and economic efficiency can go hand in hand.”
Peter Umundum, Deputy Director General, Board Member for Parcel & Logistics, Austrian Post AG: “The switch to e-mobility has long been part of everyday life for the postal service. With new electric vehicles and intelligent charging solutions at our depots or at home, we ensure that 6,000 delivery personnel are on the road reliably and electrically, even during peak season. This way, we deliver Christmas presents not only on time, but also without direct emissions.”
The Fiat e-Scudo panel van XL is equipped with a 75 kWh battery and has a range of up to 350 kilometers according to WLTP (Worldwide Harmonized Light-Duty Vehicles Test Procedure). The cargo area offers a loading volume of 6.6 m³. The Austrian Post’s configuration also includes air conditioning, heated seats, a heated steering wheel, a reversing camera with parking sensors, and enhanced cargo area lighting with LEDs.
Smart charging solutions: Charge@Home and Photovoltaics
Austrian Post is not only acquiring around 1,000 additional electric vehicles each year, but is also investing in smart charging solutions and expanding its photovoltaic capacity.
In addition to charging at logistics centers or delivery depots, around 450 delivery personnel already have the option of driving their electric vehicles home to charge them. Austrian Post provides them with a smart charging unit that records the charging sessions and automatically transmits the data to the company for billing purposes. The electricity charged will be automatically reimbursed with the next paycheck. This requires an electricity tariff that guarantees renewable energy from Austria.
The majority of the electric fleet is still charged via the Post Office’s charging infrastructure. This now includes 34 locations across Austria with photovoltaic systems, which together achieve a peak output of around 20 megawatts (MWp). The share of self-sufficiency with electricity from the Post Office’s own photovoltaic systems thus amounts to over 20 percent. Electricity purchased from other sources is exclusively from Austrian renewable energy sources.
Milestones of the Post Office’s electric fleet since 2010
The Post Office’s electric fleet is not only by far the largest in Austria, but it has also been growing by around 1,000 electric vehicles annually since 2023. The Post Office aims to make all deliveries throughout Austria by foot, e-bikes, e-mopeds, or electric vehicles by 2030. The most important milestones of recent years have been:
2010: First e-bikes and e-mopeds used in delivery services
2011: First electric cars deployed for deliveries
2012: The postal service sources its electricity exclusively from renewable energy sources.
2016: 1,000 electric vehicles in use
2017: The postal service sources its electricity exclusively from renewable energy sources in Austria.
2020: 2,000 electric vehicles in use
2021: Last-mile deliveries in Graz are made using electric vehicles, bicycles, or on foot.
2022: The postal service will only use electric vehicles for deliveries.
2023: 3,000 electric vehicles in use
2024: 4,000 electric vehicles in use
2024: Last-mile deliveries in Innsbruck will be made using electric vehicles, bicycles, or on foot.
2024: Last-mile deliveries in Salzburg (city) will be made using electric vehicles, bicycles, or on foot.
2024: Last-mile deliveries in the Wiener Neustadt area will be made using electric vehicles, bicycles, or on foot.
2024: The postal service will primarily procure only electric service vehicles.
2025: 5,000 electric vehicles in use, for the first time more electric cars than combustion engine vehicles
2025: The postal service deploys its first all-wheel-drive electric vehicles.
By the end of 2025: 6,000 electric vehicles in use
PHOTO (© AUSTRIAN POST AG):
Photo 1 (from left): Still in their postal worker uniforms after their Santa Claus team duty: Peter Umundum, Deputy Director General, Board Member for Parcel & Logistics, Austrian Post AG; Wolfgang Hattmannsdorfer, Federal Minister for Economic Affairs, Energy and Tourism; Michael Ludwig, Mayor of Vienna; and Walter Oblin, Director General, Austrian Post AG.
Source: Österreichische Post