UPS to pilot electric trucks in Europe

A fleet of 35 state-of-the-art electric delivery trucks are to be trialed in London and Paris.

Global courier company UPS is teaming up with UK-based technology firm Arrival to develop and run the EVs.

The zero emission vehicles have a battery range of more than 240 kilometers and come equipped with driver assistance technology to help to improve safety and reduce driver fatigue.

UPS automotive engineering international director Luke Wake says the collaborative project is all about reducing carbon emissions.

“UPS is marshaling its global scale to encourage innovation within the automotive industry.

“We are helping to drive demand for these disruptive technologies. The result is a safer and cleaner fleet for the communities in which we deliver,” Wake says.

Arrival is the first commercial vehicle manufacturer in Europe to provide purpose-built electric delivery vehicles to UPS’s specifications.

The two companies have been developing prototypes of different sizes since 2016 and the first vehicles are expected to be deployed on the road by the end of 2018.

Arrival chief executive Denis Sverdlov says he is excited to help create an “affordable, modular, fully electric delivery vehicle designed to make deliveries in our busy cities clean and quiet”.

“With its unique, wrap-around front window the driver has a much wider field of view that improves not only the safety of the driver but also that of cyclists and pedestrians.”