Parcel delivery company DPD has announced trials of a new mobile powerbank charging concept that could provide a solution for commercial van drivers unable to charge their vehicles at home overnight. 

The powerbank trials will be held at DPD’s Bicester eco-depot

The OnCharge ZIR0 prototype charging system will be deployed at DPD’s Bicester ‘eco-depot’ – which leads the way on the company’s sustainability initiatives. Drivers will collect a take-home powerbank from the depot, before heading home. The prototype power bank will charge the main traction battery of the van overnight, resulting in a 100% charge by the start of the driver’s day.

OnCharge Energy says its prototype is the world’s first purpose-built ruggedised powerbank, designed for fleet commercial vehicles. It delivers 50kWh of charge – and the company says the system takes just 90 seconds to load in the evening, and unload in the morning.

It’s designed to tackle the issue of charging access for drivers who don’t have access to off-street parking – according to estimates, some 40% of households do not have access to off-street parking or are in rental accommodation where they can’t install chargers. But electric van drivers are far less likely to be in a position to install home charging.

Philip Clarke, CEO OnCharge Energy, explained: “In terms of productivity, the most efficient time to charge a commercial EV is overnight, but around 70% of fleet van drivers can’t charge at home. We believe that a take-home powerbank that you can collect at the end of the working day could revolutionise commercial EV fleet management and help encourage more drivers to switch to EVs.”

The prototype trials will allow OnCharge and DPD engineers to gather field data and review driver feedback. They’ll also provide insight into potential integration with DPD’s Bicester on-site solar panel array.

The trial is part of OnCharge Energy’s Field Test and Development programme and a key step towards scaling up customer production in late 2023. The company is also working to develop drive-through hubs where drivers will be able to collect prebooked powerbanks.

DPD is working to be the most sustainable parcel delivery company in the UK; it’s on track to have over 4,000 electric vehicles on the road by the end of this year, delivering to 30 towns and cities using electric vehicles only. Nearby Oxford was DPD’s first ‘green city’, with all deliveries made by the Bicester eco-depot’s zero-emission delivery vehicles.

Olly Craughan, head of sustainability at DPD, commented: “It’s fantastic to work with OnCharge to try this system in the real-world. Working together will give us the opportunity to really understand the impact it can have on our drivers first-hand. It allows both us and OnCharge to see how the system works under different scenarios and allows our transport and sustainability teams to explore how an agile powerbank model can amplify our investment in EV and on-site renewable generation.”

OnCharge Energy’s Philip Clarke added: “DPD already have a huge amount of experience running a large EV fleet and the Bicester eco-depot is the perfect place to trial our solution. We are looking forward to working with the team and hopefully making their EV fleet even more efficient and effective.”