DPD UK has confirmed it has participated in the Design Verification programme of the Volta Zero 16 tonne electric delivery truck.

The Design Verification Volta Zero was based at the Hinckley Superhub in Leicestershire. DPD UK drivers were accompanies by Volta Trucks engineers as well as qualified drivers. No parcels were carried in the test programme but the vehicle was tested on a range of routes that included motorways, A-roads and urban centres.

The Volta Zero is the world’s first purpose built 16-tonne vehicle designed for urban logistics. It has a range of 150-200kms and is designed to reduce the environmental impact of freight deliveries in city centres.

From DPD UK’s perspective, this fits with its aim to be the most sustainable delivery company in the UK. It plans to have more than 3,000 electric vehicles on the road this year and another thousand by the end of 2023.

Olly Craughan, Head of Sustainability, DPD commented, “It was fantastic to get our hands on a Volta Zero and put it through its paces, with our own drivers alongside Volta Trucks’ engineers.  We had the truck for five days and it is very impressive.  The trial is an opportunity for us to test the vehicle first-hand, while helping Volta Trucks see exactly how it performs in real-life scenarios and on typical routes.

“Working with the Volta Trucks team in the cab gave us a great insight into what they are doing and how the truck could fit into the fleet.  Increasingly we are operating in low or zero-emission zones in major cities, so with micro-depots and all-electric city centre van fleets we have already transformed our urban delivery strategy.  But there is a real need for bigger, green vehicles that can fit into that strategy.”