West Midlands innovators are working to create low-speed electric parcel-delivery vehicles which could one day replace petrol and diesel vans.
The “Last Mile Logistics Project” has turned Warwick University’s campus into a test site for a fleet of the new vehicles.
The purpose of the work is to show how such vehicles can work to cut congestion and improve local air quality.
According to the WMCA, the ground-breaking new products are just some of hundreds of others being developed in the region thanks to funding from its “Innovation Accelerator.”
Researchers want to work with the Department for Transport to evaluate how the data and learnings can be used to remove barriers to make the vehicles legal on UK roads and cycle lanes in the future.
With a well-established regional automotive supply chain, the team is working to help establish the West Midlands as an assembly hub for this new type of vehicle.
“The West Midlands has led transport innovation for centuries”
The Last Mile Logistics Project is a partnership between the University of Warwick and Transport for West Midlands.
WM Mayor Richard Parker, on a visit to the University of Warwick, said: “The West Midlands has led transport innovation for centuries – from Watt’s steam engine to the first bicycle and petrol car.
“Now in the 21st century we’re stepping up to tackle modern-day challenges. With online shopping booming, the delivery sector is playing an ever increasing role in our regional economy, generating much needed jobs for local people.
“That’s why I’m funding the Last Mile Logistics Project to find new ways of keeping goods moving while cutting congestion and improving air quality.”
Mark Urbanowski, principal engineer for micromobility at the University of Warwick, said: “It’s going to take a shift in behaviour and more regulatory and legislative work to get these low-speed vehicles into use.
“There’s real potential to lower emissions, improve air quality and reduce congestion in our communities. Economically, tens of thousands could be rolled out, all designed, engineered, and built in the UK with a full supply chain behind them.”
