Good afternoon members of the media, fellow Ministerial Colleagues and our representatives from partnering Ministries.
As the public will be aware, the Government is currently finalising its “EVolve Bermuda” initiative – the zero-emission vehicle (ZEV) policy which will eventually phase-out the importation of privately and commercially owned internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicles in Bermuda.
Spearheaded by the Ministry of Transport, the proposed phase-out dates for ICE vehicles include 2035 for cars and 2040 for heavy trucks.
As you have heard, to lead by example, the Ministry of Public Works has committed to electrifying the Government vehicle fleet through a phased approach by replacing aging assets with ZEVs when available.
On behalf of the Cabinet Office and more specifically the Bermuda Post Office, I am pleased to join our partnering Ministries to signal our willingness to participate in this initiative.
We believe that sustainable development is an essential element of postal operations.
It contributes to improved business efficiency and resilience, strengthened customer relationships, and the development of new products and services.
In addition, responsible operations allow postal operators to create attractive and safe working places, build trust with the communities in which they operate, and leverage their networks for the involvement and benefit of the general public.
As a United Postal Union member, the Bermuda Post Office supports efforts to incorporate sustainable development into their activities for a sustainable future.
The Post Office operates several cycles and vehicles that have an impact on greenhouse gas emissions from postal operations.
In that regard, we have decided to do our part to be part of the solution to combat climate change.
As the largest motorcycle fleet operator within Government, with 50 cycles, the Bermuda Post Office was identified as a primary candidate for the Electric Motorcycle Pilot Program.
So, we’ve partnered with the Ministry of Public Works and purchased two electric motorcycles which will allow us to test the new technology before larger procurements are considered.
The initial Pilot is planned for six months and we look forward to getting acclimated to these new vehicles and ensuring a cleaner, greener way to deliver mail.
Thank you!