TORONTO – Canada Post is one of the first delivery fleets in Canada to add Navistar’s new all-electric eStar step vans to its equipment pool.

The class 3 eStar has a range of 160 kilometres per charge and can be fully recharged within 6 to 8 hours.

"Part of our environmental commitment is to evaluate and proceed with alternate fuel technologies that will offer us a return on investment,” said Deepak Chopra, Canada Post President and CEO. “Our trucks are in every neighbourhood in the country everyday and we take pride in our efforts to deliver to our customers in an environmentally responsible way."

With zero tailpipe emissions, each eStar is said to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by as much as 10 tons annually.

Unlike most other electric trucks that are reconfigured models of fossil-fuel trucks, the eStar truck has been purpose-built for electric power with a low centre of gravity (the battery is between the frame rails, not mounted on top).

The eStar is sold in Ontario at the Western International dealership in Toronto and in partnership with Kemptville International in Ottawa.