In what the company claims is the first of its kind, the truck features an on-board power generator as well as a super capacitor energy storage system.
The prototype, which has been under development for two years, has now been delivered to DHL’s Maidstone facility as part of a “proof of concept” trial.
The truck will be used around London as part of the NHS Supply Chain contract because of its particular suitability for stop-start journeys.
DHL says that if successful, the new technology could play a major role in its urban, local and home delivery operations in the future.
The company has pledged to increase its CO2 efficiency by 30% by 2020 compared with a 2007 baseline and reached the halfway point this year, with an efficiency increase of 16%.
Conor McGlone