They will be launched during July across selected locations in London and the South East including Whitechapel, Islington, Bexleyheath, Dartford and Orpington in Kent.

Royal Mail fleet director Paul Gatti,

This trial is part of a programme of initiatives across our business that will ensure we can continue to deliver letters and parcels safely, efficiently and in the most environmentally-friendly way possible.

As the sector looks towards cargo cycle solutions the Big Red Machine has long moved from cycle to cargo trolley.

Royal Mail said it has reduced its overall carbon emissions by 29 per cent since 2004, while its “Feet on the Street” network of 90,000 postmen and women plays a key role in keeping its carbon emissions low.

The electric mix will be Mercedes-Benz eVito and Peugeot Partner vans with capacities ranging from 3.7 cu m to 6.3 cu m. The vehicles will operate as part of usual delivery routes.

This latest move is part of Royal Mail’s involvement in the Optimise Prime project, the electric vehicle demonstrator led by Hitachi Vantara and UK Power Networks. The project tests and implements the best approaches to the EV rollout for commercial enterprises.