Press release
Australia Post has signed a deal with New Zealand electric utility bike maker UBCO to provide a new fleet of custom electric motorbikes.
We're excited to be providing Australia Post with a new fleet of 175 lightweight, zero emission, all-electric motorbikes. The collaboration follows an extensive 18-month trial of our vehicles in key Australian states, including rigorous testing across a range of urban and rural terrains and allowing us to work closely with delivery workers to design a vehicle to meet their specific requirements for range, speed, safety, and accessibility.
We've dubbed this next-generation EV model ‘DUTY’ and are now in discussion with other international agencies, including New Zealand Post, to implement similar electrification schemes for their own fleets.
Speaking at the Sydney launch, Australia Post CEO and Managing Director, Paul Graham highlighted the significance of the new fleet. “This is a pivotal moment for Australia Post and demonstrates our commitment to sustainability and forward-thinking technology. This new fleet allows us to electrify a broader spectrum of routes, reducing our reliance on fossil fuels and further advancing our sustainability goals. We are proud to integrate cutting-edge solutions that benefit our team members, our customers, and the environment.”
“We have steadily been trialling electric fleet solutions since our humble beginnings a decade ago on a New Zealand farm,” says our Chief Executive, Oliver Hutaff. “Our latest model, the UBCO DUTY, is tailored for companies seeking efficient, low-emission delivery options. Partnering with Australia Post has been the perfect opportunity to showcase UBCO’s core strengths of robust utility and durability, focused on vehicles being used for work. We have developed a vehicle that meets the rigorous demands of high-use delivery, including a top speed of 95kph. These bikes will be used on average six hours a day, five days a week, carrying heavy loads, showcasing UBCO’s extreme capabilities and what places us apart in the market”.
“Urban last-mile delivery is predicted to grow by 78% by the end of the decade, adding to the already significant congestion burden in cities around the world. While this will certainly require innovation at a city-planning level, the solution also lies in fleet innovation. Delivery fleets of nimble, lightweight, two-wheeled 100% electric vehicles can reduce the huge impact of transport emissions and congestion, while significantly reducing fuel and operational costs for companies. Working with Australia Post has really shown us what the future of large-scale, electrified delivery could look like, and we’re excited and immensely proud to be part of that.”
Read more about how the DUTY bike was developed in partnership with Australia Post in our case study. You can also learn more about how the DUTY bike can help your fleet operations here.
Links to some of the recent media coverage about the Australia Post deal:
New Zealand
NZ Herald - Tauranga-based Electric Motorcycle Maker Inks Major Deal
Radio Interview with Grant Payton - RNZ
NBR - EV Maker Scores Pivotal Australia Post Fleet Deal
Australia
The Bulletin - Australia Post Launches New Fleet of Electric Motorbikes
The National Tribune - Australia Post Driving Innovation
Industry