What is the IPC Drivers' Challenge?
The Drivers' Challenge is organised every year and a half and is done in collaboration with a hosting post. Over the past years, IPC has organised four editions of the Drivers' Challenge in different countries:
- Montpellier, France in 2012
- Naas, Ireland in 2013, in partnership with An Post
- Ivalo, Finland in 2015, in partnership with Posti
- Spa-Francorchamps, Belgium in 2016, in partnership with bpost
- Estoril, Portugal in 2018, in partnership with CTT Portugal Post
Sixth edition of IPC Drivers' Challenge to take place in the Netherlands in February 2021
In February 2021, IPC will organise the sixth IPC Drivers’ Challenge in the Netherlands, co-hosted by PostNL. The event will take place in Zandvoort, near Amsterdam. The 2020 event had to be postponed due to the Covid-19 crisis. Teams from European postal operators will compete in all aspects of the postal delivery chain. As with previous editions, the teams will be composed of a best-in-class driver and a senior manager, who will perform a number of tests on eco-driving, efficient electric car driving, car handling, safety and customer service.
After 2018's successful trial with electric vehicles in Estoril (Portugal), the part of electric vehicles in the competition will be further expanded in 2019. In 2018, teams performed a number of deliveries on the public road using an electric vehicle. As efficient driving in an electric vehicle requires a different driving behaviour, this test presented a new challenge to the participants. The expansion of the electric vehicles tests during the 2020 event will offer new learning opportunities to the participants.
As the share of alternative and electric vehicles in the postal fleet continues to grow, green transportation now represents almost 25% of the postal fleet. EMMS participants’ alternative-fuel vehicles fleet totalled 149,900 in 2017, up 45,800 vehicles compared to 2016 and representing 23.3% of total vehicles. Electric and E85 bioethanol vehicles now account for 48.7% and 28.3% of all alternative vehicles respectively. The number of electric vehicles grew strongly in 2017 as two large posts significantly expanded their electric vehicle fleets.
Invitations for the 2020 edition of the IPC Drivers’ Challenge have been sent to EMMS participants. Should you wish to receive further information, please contact Eva Wouters at [email protected].
Pedro Madeira and Ricardo Monteiro (CTT Portugal Post) win the 2018 IPC Drivers’ Challenge in Estoril, Portugal
Teams from An Post (Ireland), bpost MSO Distribution and bpost MSO Transport (Belgium), Correos (Spain), CTT Portugal Post (Portugal); Le Groupe La Poste (France), Posti (Finland), Posten Norge (Norway), PostNL TGN, PostNL Parcels (the Netherlands) and PostNord (Sweden-Denmark) geared up on 17 and 18 April 2018 on the Estoril Racing track, in Portugal for the fifth edition of the IPC Drivers’ Challenge. All posts have sent their best team, mostly selected through national competition or continuous measurement of driving behaviour.
The teams competed in all aspects of the postal delivery chain. While the atmosphere was friendly, all teams displayed an excellent level of focus and showed true dedication in each of the competition subcategories. The Portuguese team excelled in all aspects of the competition, and rightfully took this year’s IPC Drivers’ Challenge trophy home. Teams from Belgium and Finland ranked second and third respectively.
As in previous editions, participating teams consisted of a professional driver and a postal manager. Tests in this edition of the IPC Drivers’ Challenge included:
- a theory test,
- a series of car checks,
- a challenging combination of car handling exercises,
- a 40km-long eco-driving route combining the Estoril race track experience and the surrounding areas, including a swap of drivers at the beautiful Blue lagoon, and
- a 21km-long delivery route combining electric driving and the delivery exercise on the public road.
This year, a new component was added to the competition, where teams performed a number of deliveries on the public road, using an electric vehicle. As efficient driving in an electric vehicle requires a total different driving behaviour, this test presented a new challenge to our participants. Along a 21km route, the teams need to execute a number of deliveries, while using a fully electric delivery vehicle. As this was the first time the element was included, and not all postal drivers had the experience of driving an electric vehicle before, ample time was given during the training day to familiarise with the vehicle.
A selection pictures of the event is available below.
IPC produced a video report about the event. The video is available below.
We asked vlogger Syroop to visit the IPC Drivers' Challenge and make a report. The video is available below.