Chunghwa Post is to begin using three-wheeled electric vehicles to deliver mail and packages, with the trial service to be launched at three post offices in Taipei and New Taipei City today.
The state-run postal firm has expanded its use of electric vehicles in mail and delivery services since 2018 in compliance with the government’s policy of reaching net zero carbon emissions by 2050, Chunghwa Post chairman Wang Kwo-tsai (王國材) said at a ceremony in Taipei yesterday.
Two-wheeled electric scooters account for half of its delivery vehicle fleet, Wang said.
Photo: Lin Chih-yi, Taipei Times
The two-wheeled scooters can each carry about six parcels in addition to regular mail, while the three-wheeled scooters can carry up to 80 parcels, he said, adding that postal services in Japan and Australia have begun to use such vehicles to deliver mail.
Two types of three-wheeled electric scooters have been introduced — one rechargeable and the other with swappable batteries — to determine which model is better suited for Chunghwa Post’s operations, he said.
The trial program would be launched at major post offices in Taipei, as well as New Taipei City’s Banciao (板橋) and Sanchong (三重) districts, Wang said.
“We would consider expanding the use of three-wheeled electric scooters to Pingtung and Hualien counties — which tend not have a lot of packages — if the results of the trial prove to be successful,” he said.
The plan is to phase out fossil fuel-powered vehicles, with the goal of fully electrifying the mail delivery fleet by 2040, he said.
With greater capacity and extended range, three-wheeled electric scooters can meet the firm’s requirements, the company said.
One of the new vehicles would reduce net carbon emissions by about 471kg per year, it said.
Department of Mail Business and Operations director Ke Ching-chang (柯清長) said that the company has 3,630 two-wheeled electric scooters.
The company decided to introduce three-wheeled scooters after positive feedback from mail couriers, Ke said.
Using the three-wheeled scooters increases capacity and reduces safety risks for mail couriers, particularly for female riders, he said.
Forty-four three-wheeled scooters would be used during the six-month trial, with 18 assigned to Taipei Beimen Post Office, 16 to Banciao Wenhua Road Post Office and 10 to Sanchong Zhongshan Road Post Office, Ke said.
An electric three-wheeled scooter can operate at 65km while carrying 60 parcels, he said.
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