Canada Post President and CEO Doug Ettinger announces key environmental commitments on June 9, 2022. (Photo: Canada Post)

By David Opinko

Canada Post to have all-electric fleet by 2040

Jun 9, 2022 | 10:02 AM

OTTAWA, ON – Canada’s national postal service has announced significant steps in its effort to achieve net-zero carbon emissions.

Canada Post will spend $1 billion transforming its entire fleet of 14,000 delivery vehicles into ones that run on electric power.

The Crown Corporation hopes to have half of its fleet consist of electric vehicles by 2030 and 100% by 2040.

Canada Post President and CEO Doug Ettinger says they have a responsibility to help lead the way to a more sustainable future.

“Canada Post has one of the biggest fleets in the country, over 68,000 employees, a significant real estate portfolio, and an extensive supply chain,” says Ettinger. “The challenge ahead is great, and we know the greening of our transportation is critical. That’s why we’ve committed to net-zero operations and a fully electric fleet by 2040.”

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In a media release, Canada Post says its vehicles drover 104.1 million kilometres in 2021, the equivalent of circling the globe more than 2,500 times.

To help reduce the environmental impacts of such heavy vehicle usage, the organization will pilot smaller, low-speed delivery vehicles in neighbourhoods west of downtown Ottawa. The electric-powered vehicles will have a maximum speed of 40 km/hr and will be used to deliver mail and smaller parcels.

The service will also upgrade several of its existing post offices with energy efficiency upgrades such as solar panels, increased insulation, and triple-glazed windows.

In May 2022, Canada Post announced the construction of a $470 million net-zero parcel sorting facility in Scarborough, Ontario.

Through these efforts and others, Ettinger says the goal is for Canada Post to be fully net-zero by 2050.

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