Range testing for hybrid delivery van concept
DPD has entered into a partnership with the London EV Company (LEVC) for a series of road trials ahead of the launch of the company’s new VN5 Electric Van later this year.
LEVC, formally known as The London Taxi Company, is the brand behind the iconic London black taxicabs. The company created the world's first EV taxi in 2017.
The VN5 Electric Van is a 2.5 tonne low emissions vehicle and will be available in the UK in Q420. The Range Extending Vehicle will offer a fully electric powertrain with a Pure EV range of 63 miles, and a total flexible range of over 300 miles.
DPD will be testing the technology using a specially adapted LEVC vehicle. The team will be looking at how the vehicle operates in different driving conditions, and with different loads and on different types of routes, using the full capability of the range extending technology.
Range is an issue, especially in less urban areas, where DPD vehicles often have to travel a significant distance to get to the start of the delivery route. Hence the interest in the VN5.
Dwain McDonald, DPD's CEO said: “We have a number of routes where we have to drive a significant number of stem miles from the depot just to get to the first delivery address. At the moment, the limited range on pure EVs, means we can't move away from diesel vans for these routes.
“We could use geo-fencing so that it switches automatically to electric-only on entering urban areas, including low emissions zones.”
