Polish Post and the Main Council of Research Institutes for Electromobility
Poczta Polska will collaborate with the Main Council of Research Institutes in the research, implementation, and operation of electric vehicles and vehicles powered by gaseous fuels (CNG and LNG). An agreement was signed on July 23 of this year.
The scope of the joint ventures includes issues related to the organization of transport and infrastructure for CNG and LNG-powered vehicles. The Main Council of Research Institutes (RGIB) will select the appropriate institute to lead the project, specifically developed for the needs of Poczta Polska. The agreement stipulates that RGIB and Poczta Polska will obtain funding for this project, including from aid funds.
The research part will be carried out by an institute selected by RGIB, while implementation and field tests as well as vehicle operational tests will be carried out by Poczta Polska.
The Main Council of Research Institutes currently represents 107 institutes, a significant portion of which are units developing new solutions in various fields of technology. The essence of research institutes' activities is conducting scientific research and effectively implementing the results of this research into practice.
Powering delivery vehicles and trucks with larger payloads with alternative fuels (electricity, CNG, and LNG) is particularly important for Poczta Polska due to their low operating costs and ease of maintenance. Thanks to the introduction of innovative technologies, these vehicles offer all the advantages of diesel vehicles while also ensuring significant reductions in air pollution and a quieter ride. In the case of this fuel, the refueling and service infrastructure are crucial to the profitability of such vehicles and must therefore be factored into future operational conditions analyses.
Postal workers are currently testing a Scania LNG-powered tractor unit and an eco-friendly IVECO Stralis Natural Power tractor unit. These efforts aim to verify the feasibility of using low-emission and zero-emission vehicles in daily operation within the national postal operator's fleet.
For over a year, Poczta Polska has been conducting the largest tests of alternative fuel vehicles in Poland. Last year, electric vehicles up to 3.5 tons with a payload of up to 800 kg were tested. This fall, several dozen such vehicles will join the postal fleet. This year, electric delivery vehicles with a payload of over 800 kg were tested.