Global logistics firm UPS has announced the launch of its first off-grid powered delivery vehicles at Expo 2020, in partnership with ports operator DP World.

Two vehicles by UK electric vehicles manufacturer Arrival will be seen traversing the Expo site over the next six months. A specialised Solar Technology Charging System for the vehicles will be located at the DP World pavilion.

“[This] represents an ongoing transformation of the logistics sector,” said Abdulla bin Damithan, CEO and managing director DP World – UAE region and Jafza at the press event. “[These vehicles] will complement our existing solutions such as Boxbay, automated containiner handling facility, etc.”

UPS International President Scott Price mentions that the firm has ordered 10,000 such vehicles for global operations, but did not specify where these would be deployed.

Arrival’s vehicles are made of proprietary composite materials that are 50 per cent lighter than steel, and recyclable and reusable. The vehicles are manufactured in locally situated microfactories, enabling the use of existing warehouses rather than dedicated automobile factories. Arrival currently has four such microfactories – North Carolina, US, South Carolina, US, Bicester, UK, and Madrid, Spain

Arrival is listed on the Nasdaq stock exchange, and has seen investments from firms including UPS, Hyundai Motor Company and Kia Motors Corporation.

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