Parcel delivery firm DPD has completed a successful trial of the Terberg YT203-EV electric tug at its Oldbury sorting hub in the UK.
The company runs a fleet of over 50 tugs to perform all trailer movements across its five hubs in Oldbury, Smethwick and Hinckley. The trial was carried out to understand how the electric vehicle could help as part of the move to a more sustainable HGV fleet in the longer term.
The model on test was fitted with two 78kw batteries and comprehensive regenerative braking, with universal charging meaning the YT203-EV can be charged at standard DC charging stations.
Taking real-life data from customers’ own vehicles, Terberg DTS can give a visualization of how the YT203-EV can work over a 24-hour period using opportune charging.
Tim Jones, director of marketing, communications and sustainability, DPDgroup UK, commented, “Tugs are the lifeblood of our hub operation, performing all trailer movements efficiently and safely across the five sites. The electric tug performed incredibly well. Our drivers were really impressed, especially with the ease of use and driver comfort.
“Clearly there are major advantages to the EV version in terms of emissions and the working environment for our drivers, but it was also really good to understand how the vehicles operate in a real-world scenario, including how they can be charged effectively during the day to maximize working hours.”
Peter Giles, head of UK Logistics Sales, Terberg DTS, added, “Terberg DTS are proud to be able to assist DPD on the way to net zero and it was great to be able to work with DPD’s drivers and demonstrate what the YT203-EV can do in their own yard. Their aim is to be one of the leaders in the march to a more sustainable fleet future and they have already amassed a lot of knowledge and experience working with EVs.
“We know just how versatile and effective the vehicle is, but every operation is slightly different and working on-site with their own drivers means DPD can get really meaningful feedback from those who know the job better than anyone.”
In related news, DPD is investing £330m (US$444m) in seven state-of-the-art distribution centers in the next two years, adding to its network of over 80 regional centers across the UK. Read the full story