Australia Post adds three-wheeler EVs to last-mile fleet
The 3-wheeled motorcycles come from Taiwanese company Gaius Automotive, which offers a range of small EVs tailored to logistics fleets. The Rapide 3 itself is capable of top speeds of 80 km/h and has a range of up to 180km on a single charge. In terms of capacity, it can hold 150 small parcels (or 200kg) – which Australia Post says is a 400 per cent increase in capacity over its outgoing Honda motorbikes.
One of the Rapide 3’s more unique features is a patented 35-degree tilting system which enables drivers to turn at high speed while fully loaded. Australia Post has not specified whether it sourced the vehicles from a local reseller or not, but it did state that the Rapide 3 EVs have been tailored for ‘Australian conditions’ and feature an integrated canopy and windscreen.
The 500 three-wheelers will join a wider fleet of 5600 EVs. This includes Fuso eCanter trucks, Mercedes-Benz eVito vans, and DUTY e-motorcycles – all of which are recharged using 37 dedicated charging stations.
Paul Graham, the Group CEO and MD for Australia Post, said that replacing smaller delivery vehicles with EVs is the first step towards decarbonising the company’s fleet. “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.”
0 Comments