DUTCH postal company TNT NV yesterday launched a trial of China's first zero-emission electric delivery vans in Wuhan, capital of Hubei Province, in a cooperative agreement with Dongfeng Motor Co.

Two light electric trucks, each of which cost 300,000 yuan (US$42,860) in research and development, will be tested for six months, and the two companies are exploring the feasibility of expanding the use of such vans to other cities across the country.

"The trial launch of China's first two electric delivery vans is significant," TNT's CEO Peter Bakker said at the launch ceremony. "It will be the first market outside of Europe that TNT is bringing this trial, which will reduce CO2 emissions from our own delivery fleet."

The initiative is part of TNT's strategy to become the first zero-emission road and air transport company.

The vehicles are designed to run at most 80 kilometers per hour and capable of carrying a load of 1 ton.

"The battery, able to work for a year, supports vehicles to run 160km to 200km once fully charged, which is suitable for inner-city routes," Bakker said.

The two firms are expecting policy and funding support from the government.

"The government hasn't issued rules on regulating electric vehicles and we hope special policies can be mapped out to support such vehicles' normal operation," said Dongfeng Automobile CEO Zhu Fushou.

Zhu said R&D costs "are four times that of fuel vehicles and batteries also cost a lot."

TNT already runs several electric vehicles in the United Kingdom, the Netherlands, Belgium and Luxembourg. TNT successfully tested a 7.5 ton zero-emission electric truck in London for a year and is considering adding 50 more to its UK fleet.