• Improving vehicle range to accelerate rollout. The two companies plan to dialogue and share information on their tests and study programs to improve the range of the vehicles produced by Renault that are currently part of the La Poste fleet. R&D projects have already been initiated in this area. The “MobilHyTest” range extension (hydrogen fuel cells as range extenders, earlier post) falls within the scope of the new partnership.

• Making vehicles used in urban areas cleaner. Current projects concern research into solutions for parcel delivery needs in urban, peri-urban and rural areas for 5 m³ to 17 m³ vehicles. A key player in urban logistics, La Poste every day tackles the same equation of meeting the growing demands arising from e-commerce by delivering parcels in city centers while limiting the harmful impacts stemming from traffic and parking. The aim is to generate solutions for a cleaner and quieter urban logistics better adapted to its environment, and also to improve the working conditions of mail delivery and collection staff.

• Working on different sizes of electric vehicles. The two groups will conduct a watch, carry out tests, and dialogue on new vehicles measuring up to 17 m³ for mail use and in respect of competition law. Several new ideas have already emerged, including in the 8 m³ segment, the “service” vehicle segment and the small urban vehicle segment.

• Contributing to future road mobility with the advent of connected vehicles. Through their collaborative work, Renault and La Poste are making an active contribution to the development of connected and communicating light commercial vehicles by 2020, as well as to their management and monitoring in professional contexts.

The signing of the new agreement coincided with the symbolic turnover of the keys to the 5,000^th Kangoo Z.E. electric vehicle to mailperson Vivien Malungu at the Issy les Moulineaux mail platform south of Paris.

Renault has a 55% share of the electric vehicle market in France. The company offers a full range of electric vehicles featuring Twizy, ZOE and Kangoo Z.E. Nearly 50,000 electric vehicles from Renault’s Zero Emission range are on the road worldwide. Outside Europe, Renault has begun to market its Z.E. range in South America and Asia, responding to needs on CO₂ emissions reductions, improved air quality, and the energy independence of numerous countries. Through its partner network, La Poste group enables Renault to share its experience in electric vehicles.

La Poste group has launched a wide-ranging sustainable development policy and currently runs the world’s largest fleet of electric vehicles:

• 5,000 electric cars. With a range of up to 70 km (43.5 miles) in optimal mail use, a load volume of 3 m³ or 4 m³ depending on the model, zero CO₂ emissions and a pleasant and silent drive, these vehicles are perfectly adapted to 100% environmentally responsible mail routes. The vehicles are built for La Poste by Renault.

• 1,000 electric quads. The electric quad is poised to replace motorized two-wheelers and, in some cases, internal-combustion four-wheelers. It will be used in particular in cities and suburbs as well as in pedestrian areas closed to internal-combustion vehicles. The vehicle has a range of around 25 km (15.5 miles) and can transport up to 150 kg (331 lbs) of mail and parcels. The vehicles are built for La Poste by Ligier.

• 18,000 electrically assisted bicycles. Electrically assisted bicycles have a range of 20 km (12.4 miles) and can be used to replace motorized two-wheelers. Electrical assistance can supply more than 80% of the power required. Two in three bicycle mailpersons are equipped with an electrically assisted bicycle. The bicycles are built for La Poste by Cycleurop and Arcade (France).

• 100 STABY electric three-wheelers. STABY, the latest addition to La Poste’s electric vehicle fleet, is used to deliver and collect mail and small goods in city centers and peri-urban and rural areas. The vehicle has a range of 35 km (21.8 miles) in mail use and can transport nearly twice as many letters and parcels as a scooter. Highly maneuverable and easy to drive, it is also more stable and safer to use than a two-wheeler, which it is set to replace. These vehicles are built for La Poste by Ligier.

To capitalize on all the expertise acquired in the field, La Poste has created MOBIGREEN, a subsidiary dedicated to promoting eco-driving with all the players concerned by this type of training, including managers of company fleets, large companies and local authorities.

Another La Poste subsidiary, GREENOVIA, shares its expertise in vehicle fleet management with companies looking to introduce, develop or optimize automotive fleets while meeting their social, environmental and financial objectives.

A 100% publicly funded corporation since 1 March 2010, La Poste has an original group model structured around five core business areas: Services-Mail-Parcels; La Banque Postale (banking); Réseau La Poste (network); Geopost; and Digital. The Group is present in over 40 countries on four continents. Every day, La Poste’s 17,000 contact points—constituting the largest local commercial network in France—welcome some 1.7 million clients.

La Poste distributes 25 billion objects worldwide a year, six days a week, including letters, printed advertising and parcels.

In 2013 La Poste group reported revenue of €22.08 billion, 17% of that internationally, and employed 266,000 people.