Meet the StreetScooter, DHL Express’ new, all-electric delivery vehicle. The company says the new truck showcases several futuristic aspects of urban delivery technology that are likely to become commonplace in the next few years. DHL has begun testing new, improved versions of StreetScooter Work and Work L delivery trucks in Europe. A North American evaluation program is planned as well.

Next spring, DHL will debut StreetScooter's zero-emission Work L delivery van in two urban U.S. markets, one on each coast. Full deployment could come in 2022 and 2023.

StreetScooter has been manufacturing advanced delivery vehicles in Europe since 2010. DHL bought the company in 2014. StreetScooter said its next generation of vehicles offers a host of new features, including a redesigned box body with a larger payload of over a ton and space for up to four euro pallets.

The new versions of the Work and Work L delivery models can reach a top speed of 74 mph. They also offer additional features that make the new models safer and more comfortable and convenient for everyday work on the job. Examples include the in-vehicle Automatic Emergency Call system eCall and the AVAS Acoustic Vehicle Alerting System, both of which ensure more safety in road traffic, as well as a standard automatic climate control system, keyless entry and keyless start and a passenger side airbag. 

With a new faster charging system of 11kW, the vehicles can reach an 80% charge in approximately three and a half hours. Other standard features on the list are heated driver and passenger seats, electric adjustable heated side mirrors, an infotainment system with a Bluetooth hands-free system that uses DAB+, and Apple Car Play and Google Android Auto.

"StreetScooter is a well-known 'early bird' in the electric light commercial vehicle sector," said StreetScooter CEO Jörg Sommer in a release. "Years of experience and more than 100 million kilometers on the road have shown us what's important in tough delivery traffic and last-mile logistics. We have incorporated those insights into a new design for our success models, the Work and Work L. The results speak for themselves: optimal operational equipment for environmentally conscious fleet customers."

According to StreetScooter, the new version of the Work L will also serve as the basis for electric light commercial vehicles for the Chinese market. These trucks will be modified to meet the regional requirements of target customers in China. At the beginning of September, StreetScooter announced its intention to establish a joint venture with the Chinese automobile manufacturer Chery and enter the important Chinese market with the production of a joint eLCV.