Swiss Post Relies on Even Larger Electric Scooters

Taller, wider, bulkier – but still quiet and emission-free: The new Cargo Electric Scooter DXC has proven itself in the daily delivery routine of the Swiss Post. Now, they are significantly increasing their fleet. However, the smaller scooter DXP will continue to be used and will largely shape the image on Swiss roads in the future.

(Bern) Before Larissa Büttler sets off on her delivery route early in the morning, she takes a moment to gather her thoughts: “Drive proactively. Always keep both hands on the handlebars. No tight turns when maneuvering.” Only then does she hop on her oversized electric scooter with its striking design and zoom off. It behaves like a larger car, Büttler says. More weight, more energy, a changed center of gravity. “Accordingly, I have to adjust my driving style.”

For about a year and a half, Büttler has been regularly delivering mail with the DXC electric scooter to households in her delivery area near Solothurn. Not just letters, but also small and large packages. This is referred to as mixed delivery in postal slang. And for packages, the yellow eye-catcher with the distinctive loading box at the rear is just perfect. The C in DXC stands for Cargo. Cargo means load. The 375-kilogram electric speedster can carry up to 180 kilograms in total at the front and rear. Additionally, there is a trailer with extra weight. No wonder that Büttler received training before she was allowed to take the new work tool on the road. But she has long since mastered the Cargo Electric Scooter and has many positive words to share. “In everyday life, the DXC is a great help for us. When we use it in the right place, it fully utilizes its strengths, and we can avoid additional trips.”

By the end of 2022, around 800 Cargo Scooters will be in use

In the future, Mr. and Mrs. Swiss will encounter a DXC more and more often. By the end of 2022 alone, the Post intends to deploy up to 800 Cargo Electric Scooters in mixed delivery – especially where package volumes have increased significantly in recent years. The increasing use of the DXC is also a consequence of Corona. Last year, the Post processed 35 percent more packages than in 2019 – a huge leap within two years. However, even before the pandemic, the Post was searching for an electric vehicle with a larger payload and more cargo volume, says Renato Ercolani, responsible for the delivery fleet at Logistics Services. “The rapidly increasing package volumes have accelerated the search and purchasing process.”

The little brother continues to dominate the scene

But what does this mean for the little brother of the DXC – the well-known electric scooter DXP? It will continue to be in the majority on Swiss roads and in neighborhoods. When the three-wheeled electric scooter was first deployed in 2010, it was, according to Ercolani, “a huge step.” Six years later, the last gasoline-powered postal scooter was retired in Switzerland. Today, the DXP enjoys cult status, has been further developed in recent years, and reliably performs its duties. Its advantages over a car or delivery van are still compelling for postal workers: no seatbelts, no doors, and practically no time loss when getting on and off, as the three-wheeled DXP secures itself at certain stops. And the same goes for the Cargo Electric Scooter DXC. Only it is larger, which a keen-eyed retiree recently noticed when he crossed paths with Larissa Büttler. “The man jokingly asked me if I would soon be driving a truck on three wheels.” She smiles as she recalls this and sets off on her next tour.

The Post is sustainably on the move every day

• The Swiss Post has the largest electric scooter fleet of any European postal company. Around 5,800 DXP and about 300 DXC are on the road daily.
• Their use saves over 7,000 tons of CO2 annually – equivalent to about 2,700 flights from Zurich to New York and back for one person.
• By 2030, the Post aims to deliver exclusively with vehicles that have electric or other alternative, environmentally friendly drives.
• The Post makes an important contribution to achieving the 17 Sustainable Development Goals outlined in the UN’s 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.

Photos: © Swiss Post