Austrian Post achieves zero-emission deliveries in Vienna

In Vienna, Österreichische Post now delivers packages, letters, newspapers, magazines, and flyers entirely using electric vehicles and the muscle power of its employees. This makes the Austrian capital the first European metropolis to deploy CO2-free local delivery.

Oesterreichische post emissionsfreie zustellung wien — Image: Österreichische Post

Originally, Austrian Post had aimed to achieve zero-emission deliveries in Vienna by the end of 2025. While the milestone was reached slightly later than planned, the company has now officially completed the transition. The launch was marked at Vienna’s Heidenplatz in the presence of actor and climate advocate Arnold Schwarznegger, just one day before he was due to open the Austrian World Summit climate conference.

“The consistent expansion of its electric logistics fleet demonstrates just how seriously Austrian Post is taking the transition to a low-emission future. E-mobility is a crucial path forward globally, and every investment in this area is worthwhile,” said Schwarzenegger.

This transition did not happen overnight. As early as last summer, the company reported a fleet of 700 electric vehicles in Vienna, which has since grown to around 1,000 units. In addition, the fleet includes e-bikes, e-mopeds, and foot-based deliveries.

To achieve fully zero-emission deliveries in Vienna, Austrian Post has invested approximately €32 million in charging infrastructure and electric vehicles. Now, around 1,000 electric delivery vehicles in Vienna cover roughly eight million kilometres per year purely electrically – saving approximately 2,300 tonnes of CO₂ emissions annually.

Jürgen Czernohorszky, Vienna’s City Councillor for Climate, commented: “The fact that Austrian Post is transitioning its fleet to post-fossil fuel vehicles represents a significant contribution to climate neutrality and, consequently, to maintaining the quality of life in Vienna. It is precisely this collaboration between the city and businesses that has seen CO₂ emissions in Vienna fall by more than a third since 2005, and it is this collaboration that will continue to be needed in the future to steer Vienna towards a climate-friendly and energy-independent future.”

In cities such as Graz, Innsbruck, and Salzburg, deliveries were already CO₂-free prior to this milestone. However, Vienna, with its roughly two million inhabitants, represents an entirely different scale. Despite this achievement, Austrian Post is not resting on its laurels. After Vienna, the company has already set its next goal: by 2030, all last-mile deliveries across Austria are to be carried out using battery-electric vehicles or on foot. Today, Austrian Post already operates the country’s largest electric fleet by far, with over 6,000 electric vehicles.

post.at (link in German)