The United States Postal Service delivers 23.8 million packages per day, while UPS hands over 24.3 million. That’s a staggering amount, so it’s not surprising that a number of companies are looking to grab a slice of the delivery market.
One of the latest is B–ON, which used CES to showcase their Pelkan electric light commercial vehicle. Designed for last-mile deliveries, the model combines a futuristic front end with a traditional rear box.
However, don’t let the box fool you as it’s hiding a revolutionary secret known as the smart dispenser. As the company explained, it’s a set of rotating shelves that spin around inside the box.
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While that doesn’t sound too remarkable, B-ON said techs scan the address of each package as it is loaded onto a shelf. When the delivery driver approaches that address, the shelves spin around to get the package ready for when the vehicle arrives at the destination.
The company says this eliminates stacking and sorting, which saves at least 15 seconds per package. With 250 packages per day that saves over an hour. That’s pretty remarkable and B-ON said the technology “pays for itself within six months of use due to the increase in productivity for drivers.”
The Pelkan will be launched later this year with 43 and 54 kWh battery packs. The latter promises to deliver a range of up to 185 miles (298 km).
The batteries power an electric motor that develops 116 hp (87 kW / 118 PS) and 189 lb-ft (256 Nm) of torque. It will enable the model to hit a top speed of 75 mph (121 km/h).
Other highlights include a payload capacity of between 2,720 and 2,910 lbs (1,234 and 1,320 kg). B-ON also said the model can go from a 30-80% charge in approximately 30 minutes with a DC fast charger.
