D ie German postal service now wants to test self-propelled models of their electric delivery truck Streetscooter. The Group will test the use of technically upgraded Streetscootern that can follow the delivery of letters and parcels independently, a post spokesman said on Tuesday. Some vehicles should be equipped with appropriate technology.
Before a practice test, however, legal requirements would have to be clarified so that the street scooter could be driven through public space without a driver. In addition, Swiss Post also wants to test autonomous shunting vehicles in their distribution centers. The American manufacturer Nvidia had previously introduced new chip units for autonomous vehicles, which are also to be used by Deutsche Post.
Swiss Post has become a major manufacturer of electric vehicles with its street scooter. Plans are currently underway for a second factory in Düren, North Rhine-Westphalia , After completion, a total of 20,000 street scooters will be produced annually in two locations. Around 3000 street scooters are in service for Swiss Post. In the medium term, the Group intends to replace its entire mail and parcel delivery fleet of just under 50,000 vehicles with electric trolleys. Street scooters are also sold to customers outside the Group – for example to bakeries, craftsmen or municipalities.
The Post had originally wanted to develop electric vehicles for their needs with major automakers, but they had waved off. Currently, almost all major manufacturers are working on self-driving cars. Daimler also tests self-driving commercial vehicles.