DPD UK is adding 341 Mercedes-Benz eSprinter vans to its fleet, taking the parcel delivery company's total number of electric vehicles to more than 4,000.

The vehicles are being introduced during September and will operate both within the M25 and across the wider UK. All 341 are expected to be operational by the end of October, ahead of DPD's peak Christmas delivery period.

For fleet operators, the investment highlights the increasing ability of electric vans to take on duties previously dominated by diesel vehicles. DPD says the new eSprinters can carry the same payload as an equivalent 3.5-tonne diesel van, while improvements in battery technology and range will allow larger EVs to be deployed from more depots and across a wider geographical area.

DPD's electric vehicles already operate across more than 7,300 UK postcodes, with more than 38% of its final-mile van fleet now electric. The company delivered more than 85 million parcels using EVs during 2025.

Vehicle uptime is also a key part of the deal. The new vans will receive Mercedes-Benz repair and maintenance support through its nationwide dealer network, while connected vehicle technology can flag servicing requirements in advance, allowing maintenance to be planned before vans are taken off the road.

DPD said advances in vehicle technology and the UK's charging infrastructure had helped enable the wider rollout.

The company operates more than 10,000 vehicles from 85 UK locations and is working towards parent company Geopost's validated 2040 net-zero target.

Olly Craughan, Head of Sustainability DPD UK, commented:

“Large panel vans are the workhorse of our final mile operation so the new eSprinters will give us the capability we need to support far more lower emission deliveries over a wider area. Our EV fleet currently operates in more than 7,300 postcodes across the UK, largely focused on inner city locations where we are able to increase the benefits of operating electric vehicles through a decrease in air pollution. The eSprinters can carry the same payload as the equivalent 3.5t Diesel while the new battery technology and improved range mean more of our depots can start deploying larger EVs further afield.

"We started this journey in 2018 with the UK’s first all-electric parcel delivery depot and the feedback from our EV drivers and our customers continues to be overwhelmingly positive. The advances in both the vehicle technology and the UK’s charging infrastructure have helped with the wider roll out and ensuring we stay on course to meet our carbon reduction target.”