The DELIVER Electric Van Is A Sci-Fi Package Shipper

This funky-looking electric van prototype was built as a  new generation of urban delivery vehicles developed by the DELIVER consortium, first shown to the public recently in Masstricht, Netherlands. It is the product of a European design process, which focuses on reducing the environmental impact of light commercial vehicles in urban areas. The acronym stands for Design of Electric Light Vans for Environment-Impact Reduction, and was funded in part by the European Union, and a group of auto and parts makers including Fiat. Volkswagen and Michelin as well as many universities and several European cities.

At present, no production plans for the van have been announced, though there’s nothing  really standing between the DELIVER van and actual production. It features a Michelin electric motor, rated at 57 kW, in each rear wheel hub, and there is also a two speed gear case in each rear hub. The prototype has 18% more load carrying capacity than a conventional van of similar wheelbase, thanks to its electric drivetrain, and features a range of 62 miles, with a top speed of more than 60 mph.

But the DELIVER is not just about reducing pollution in European cities. It has a clever driver’s compartment designed to increase driver efficiency and reduce fatigue. The B-pillar is omitted on the curb side of the vehicle. allowing the installation of a step out door for the driver. This makes it easier to get in and out of the van, reducing delivery times, and because the main entrance faces the curb, the driver is never faced with the perils of oncoming traffic.

The DELIVER van may have a face that only a mother could love, but its emphasis on compact size, greater load carrying capacity, high efficiency, and low environmental impact make it a strong candidate for the delivery van of the future in the Old World.

Source: Green Car Congress

UPS Trying Out Electric Delivery Trikes In Europe

While Amazon thinks drones are the future of delivery services, for now at least companies like FedEx and UPS still require people power to get packages to your door. In fact, people power is exactly what UPS is using to delivery packages locally in Europe, where electronically-assisted trikes have been delivering packages in the older sections of Dortmund, Germany.

Like many European cities, Dortmund has narrow streets that make maneuvering even small delivery vans difficult. The “UPS Cargo Cruiser” was a pilot project launched in 2012 with a pedal-assisted range of 21 miles, with a top speed of 15 mph. Small, quiet, and costing next to nothing to “fuel” and maintain, the UPS Cargo Cruiser is a clever solution to a common project.

I haven’t been able to find any recent updates on the project, though it’s definitely something that could come stateside sooner rather than later. With over 77 cubic feet of cargo space, that UPS Cargo Cruiser has more room than most mid-size sedans for storage. It’s a brilliant solution, one that could become increasingly important in clustered urban environments in a world where energy prices are only rising. Also, trike drifting totally needs to be a bigger thing.

Will a UPS man be riding an e-trike up your street someday soon?

Source: Gas2.0