Packfleet operates all-electric vans and works with small and medium businesses across London
(Picture: Packfleet)A Bermondsey-based parcel delivery company is looking to challenge traditional couriers with its fleet of electric vehicles as it aims to more than double its number of drivers in the run-up to Christmas.
Packfleet, which operates from a railway arch in south east London, uses all electric vans and promises to pay its workers a decent rate with proper employment benefits, which it says sets it apart from other firms.
It currently operates 25 electric vans with the same number of drivers, delivering parcels for small and medium businesses across the Greater London area.
But the company’s co-founder and chief executive Tristan Thomas, who used to be vice president of marketing at challenger bank Monzo, says the company intends to expand into new UK cities in the first half of 2023, and into European markets in the coming years.
In the immediate term, he wants to take on another 25 temporary drivers and another 10-20 permanent drivers, plus more back office staff, to deal with the expected Christmas rush.
Packfleet has grown steadily since it launched 18 months ago, securing £1 million of pre-seed funding from a group of London-based investors, and later raising a further £8 million from Swedish based venture capital advisory firm Creandum.
The company promises a personalised and professional service for its clients, which include posh restaurant meal kit service Dishpatch, Peckham microbrewery Brick Brewery and online cheesemonger Cheesegeek.
Mr Thomas says Packfleet offers a better, more efficient service than the big firms and wanted to avoid “drivers who just chuck parcels over the fence”.
Companies can set specific collection times for their packages and track their driver to the door. Packfleet also lets the end customer change the delivery address, request the parcel be left with a neighbour, or ask that the driver calls them instead of ringing the bell, all while the driver is en route.
“It’s more like ordering an Uber than receiving a parcel,” Mr Thomas explains.
Drivers are paid by the hour, rather than by the delivery, meaning they aren’t incentivised to be slapdash. And - in contrast to some delivery firms - Packfleet employs all of its staff, with the benefits that go with it, including paying £13.50 an hour, free lunch, and paid holiday, health insurance and pensions for its permanent staff.
Taking the decision to go fully electric from the off was driven by a desire to get ahead of the curve, Mr Thomas explains.
“We’re increasingly moving towards a world where all vehicles will have to be electric,” he says.
“The question for us was how quickly do we get there.
“Do we build our foundations on petrol or diesel vehicles, or do we spend more money up front and go electric faster?”
Over an average route with around 100 drops, a van powered by petrol or diesel emits around 20kg of CO2 each day.
In comparison, an electric van produces no CO2 as it drives, but charging it would produce some if the electricity is generated by fossil fuels. However, Packfleet uses green electricity from a renewable provider at its depot, effectively reducing emissions from its fleet to zero.
Its green credentials have proved popular among clients, Thomas says, and he thinks it will increasingly become a selling point for businesses.
Ultimately, he wants to extend Packfleet to individual consumers, who will be able to order a courier via the app to deliver packages across the city.
“We’re not ever going to challenge Royal Mail,” he laughs, “but in terms of parcels, we hope people will think of us first.”
