Latest news with #XPress
Zawya
2 days ago
- Automotive
- Zawya
XPress rolls out South Africa's first all-EV courier operation
A new courier service, XPress, has launched in Gauteng with a fleet made up entirely of electric vehicles — a first for South Africa. The company promises next-day deliveries for R99, and currently services Gauteng, Mpumalanga and Limpopo. Backed by decades of logistics experience XPress is a new venture by Special Envoy, a logistics provider with more than 40 years of experience transporting freight across the mining and industrial sectors in Gauteng and Mpumalanga. The new offering is designed to handle overnight deliveries for business and individual clients, with a focus on reliability, efficiency and sustainability. Built around electric vehicles from day one The company's delivery fleet currently consists of modified BYD Dolphin electric vehicles. Each unit has been customised for cargo by removing rear and passenger seats to create space similar to a panel van. According to co-owner Alex Staniland, the fleet offers a range of over 400km on a full charge, with the added benefit of lower running costs and a cleaner environmental footprint. Digital-first features and instant parcel collection In addition to real-time tracking through the XPress website, the service includes a 'Bring It' feature for on-the-spot parcel collection. This allows customers to scan a QR code to send packages instantly, without paperwork or traditional waybills. Expansion plans already underway Staniland says early traction has proven the business case, and there are already discussions to expand the service to Durban, Cape Town and Nelspruit. The company is also exploring the addition of smaller EVs, such as the BYD Seagull, for intra-city deliveries. A shift towards sustainable last-mile delivery With the rise of e-commerce and urban deliveries, XPress positions itself as a cleaner alternative to traditional courier fleets. The move also reflects a broader shift within the logistics industry towards electric vehicles — despite South Africa's slower EV adoption rate compared to global markets. All rights reserved. © 2022. Provided by SyndiGate Media Inc. (
The Herald
3 days ago
- Automotive
- The Herald
SA's first full EV courier service launches in Gauteng
XPress is available in Gauteng, Mpumalanga and Limpopo. Deliveries cost R99, with next day service guaranteed for bookings made before 10am. Customers can track parcels via the company's online portal. The decision to use EVs aligns with Staniland's background in tech and smart systems. 'I wanted to portray the right brand image and an EV conveys that perfectly. We did research as to possible options and settled on BYD. The company is a rival for Tesla and is available in SA. The Dolphin has a unique appearance, a hi-tech interior and a very good range, more than 400km, on a full charge. Using EVs has made us more efficient all around.' The BYD Dolphin units used by XPress have been modified for courier use. 'There is plenty of space in the Dolphins as we had them customised. We removed the passenger and rear seats, essentially turning them into little panel vans. Our drivers seem to really enjoy driving the cars. They have a sense of pride that shows in their appearance and the level of courtesy shown to clients.' XPress also incorporates a proprietary feature called Bring It, enabling customers to send parcels by scanning a QR code on the spot. 'All our drivers are also trained on our proprietary software to accept parcels on the spot via our Bring It service. This allows clients to simply scan a QR code to send a parcel there and then, and to remove unnecessary paperwork and admin, which is pretty unique in SA.' Staniland said the initial rollout has shown strong potential and the company is planning to expand. 'The rollout has proven this is a viable concept, even if SA is slow to widespread EV adoption. We are in talks to offer the XPress service in Durban, Cape Town and Nelspruit. We are also considering adding BYD Seagulls for intra-city deliveries. But it's still early days for this exciting new business.'
TimesLIVE
3 days ago
- Automotive
- TimesLIVE
SA's first full EV courier service launches in Gauteng
The decision to use EVs aligns with Staniland's background in tech and smart systems. 'I wanted to portray the right brand image and an EV conveys that perfectly. We did research as to possible options and settled on BYD. The company is a rival for Tesla and is available in SA. The Dolphin has a unique appearance, a hi-tech interior and a very good range, more than 400km, on a full charge. Using EVs has made us more efficient all around.' The BYD Dolphin units used by XPress have been modified for courier use. 'There is plenty of space in the Dolphins as we had them customised. We removed the passenger and rear seats, essentially turning them into little panel vans. Our drivers seem to really enjoy driving the cars. They have a sense of pride that shows in their appearance and the level of courtesy shown to clients.' XPress also incorporates a proprietary feature called Bring It, enabling customers to send parcels by scanning a QR code on the spot. 'All our drivers are also trained on our proprietary software to accept parcels on the spot via our Bring It service. This allows clients to simply scan a QR code to send a parcel there and then, and to remove unnecessary paperwork and admin, which is pretty unique in SA.' Staniland said the initial rollout has shown strong potential and the company is planning to expand. 'The rollout has proven this is a viable concept, even if SA is slow to widespread EV adoption. We are in talks to offer the XPress service in Durban, Cape Town and Nelspruit. We are also considering adding BYD Seagulls for intra-city deliveries. But it's still early days for this exciting new business,' he said.
