Evri accelerates sustainability drive with £19m investment in E-Bikes

Evri, the parcel delivery giant, is set to significantly enhance its sustainability efforts with a £19 million investment in eco-friendly transportation.

Over the next year, the company plans to increase its fleet of 33 e-cargo bikes to 99 and its electric vehicles from 168 to 270, with a long-term goal of deploying 3,000 electric cargo bikes over the next decade. This ambitious initiative is part of Evri’s strategy to reduce carbon emissions and achieve net-zero status by 2035.

Martijn De Lange, Evri’s Chief Executive, highlighted the company’s commitment to reimagining parcel deliveries in the UK. “Pedal power will rev up our efforts to become the biggest operator of e-cargo bikes in the sector,” he stated. “We achieved a nine per cent decrease in carbon emissions since last year. The £19 million investment announced today will lay the groundwork for Evri to dial up on its ambition to become the UK’s most sustainable parcel carrier.”

Currently, Evri delivers 1.5 million parcels annually using electric vehicles or e-cargo bikes in cities such as London, Bristol, Oxford, and Cambridge. The company aims to triple this figure to around four million parcels within the next year. Each electric cargo bike, with a capacity of approximately 2,000 litres, handles the critical “last mile” of urban deliveries, potentially saving emissions equivalent to driving over 400,000 miles.

Pauline Potter, Director of Procurement and Sustainability at Evri, expressed confidence in the company’s multi-year ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance) plans. “Evri is committed to making a positive impact on the environment and delivering a sustainable future. We are not just investing in technology, but also in our people, empowering them to be part of the solution.”

This announcement comes amid speculation that Evri’s private equity owners are considering a significant £2 billion sale of the company. Advent International, the American private equity firm that owns Evri, is reportedly working with advisers from Rothschild to explore potential options for the company’s future, which could result in a major deal.