An Post, Ireland’s state-owned postal operator, and DHL Express Ireland, part of Germany’s DHL Group, are taking part in a pilot that connects EV fleet depots to Ireland’s electricity flexibility markets. The project lets depots adjust charging demand to grid conditions, which could cut energy costs and earn fleet operators new revenue while helping integrate more renewable electricity.

The pilot covers three An Post sites in Cork and Galway and one DHL Express site in Dublin, with 211 EVs, 181 charging points and up to 500 kW of flexible electricity demand. Charging output could be reduced when grid demand is high and increased when wind and other renewable energy is plentiful.

An Post is state-owned and reported revenue of €1.05 billion and EBITDA of €53.2 million for 2025. DHL Group is headquartered in Bonn and reported revenue of €82.9 billion and EBIT of €6.1 billion for 2025.

The project also brings together VIOTAS, Mitsui Ireland, ESB Smart Energy Services, eStation and The Mobility House. ESB is a state-owned utility that reported profit after tax of €636 million for 2025, and eStation and The Mobility House will supply and install the charging and energy management systems.

VIOTAS will enable the depots to participate in the flexibility markets of EirGrid, a state-owned commercial semi-state body that reported revenue of €1,409 million and underlying profit of €23.2 million for 2024-25.

The structural driver is grid flexibility. The system will coordinate charging schedules around fleet operating requirements and signals from the electricity system, and vehicles must still be charged in time for their next journeys.

Shane Mullarkey of Mitsui Ireland said, “For leading logistics fleet operators like An Post and DHL, the clear focus remains on fleet decarbonisation and daily operational efficiency. However, this pilot demonstrates the additional value large commercial electric vehicle fleets can offer in supporting grid flexibility.”

Mullarkey added, “Electric vehicle fleets in Ireland serve as a powerful distributed battery resource. Through smart charging and vehicle-to-grid technologies, these fleets can shift charging to periods of abundant renewable generation, reduce peak demand on the grid and provide essential flexibility and balancing services.”

For the sector, the pilot tests whether logistics depots can earn from grid flexibility without disrupting delivery schedules.

Source: electrive / An Post / DHL Group / ESB / EirGrid