Seeking to address challenges in the logistics and automotive industries, Udelv unveiled its new cab-less autonomous electric delivery vehicle for multi-stop delivery at the 2022 Consumer Electronics Show (CES).

The vehicle, which Udelv calls the Transporter, features a self-contained, hot-swappable modular cargo pod called the uPod. The vehicle can carry up to 2000 lb (907 kg) of goods, make up to 80 stops per cycle at highway speeds, and cover ranges between 160 and 300 mi (257 and 483 km) per run, depending on the battery pack option. The vehicle can be operated by Udelv’s mobile apps to seamlessly schedule, deliver, track, and retrieve packages, and is guided by a Mobileye Drive self-driving system.

“This is a historic day for the transportation and logistics industries,” said Daniel Laury, Udelv CEO and Co-founder. “The Transporter is transformative for two of the world’s largest industries: automotive and logistics. It was created to solve two great challenges of commercial fleets: the shortage of drivers and the electrification of fleets.”

The Transporter’s unveiling is a significant follow-up to Udelv’s announcement in 2021, regarding the company’s selection of Mobileye as its supplier of cameras, LiDARs, radars, and the fifth generation of EyeQ, Mobileye’s system-on-chip for automotive applications. At that time, Udelv and Mobileye also announced a plan to produce more than 35,000 Transporters with Mobileye Drive by 2028, with commercial operations set to begin in 2023.

Udelv says its third-generation vehicle is the result of years of experimentation, client testing, and mechanical, electrical, and software engineering. In 2018, Udelv made its debut in California with the first-ever autonomous delivery on public roads. Since then, Udelv claims to have completed more than 20,000 deliveries for multiple merchants in California, Arizona, and Texas.

Some of the new Udelv Transporter’s features include cloud-based software with intelligent loading and unloading as well as a function to return items. The company says the Transporter can deliver almost anything, from convenience goods, e-commerce packages, and groceries to auto parts, electronics, and medical supplies for business-to-business and business-to-consumer applications.

To rapidly deploy at scale, the Transporter will integrate Mobileye’s AV (autonomous vehicle) maps based on Road Experience Management (REM), a crowdsourced, continuously updated map of the world that digitizes what autonomous vehicles need to navigate.

The Transporter vehicle features Udelv’s 24/7 ultra-low-latency camera-based teleoperation system for remote maneuvers and assistance and Udelv’s electronic control unit acting as the vehicle’s central compute unit to integrate and optimize all functions. Battery capacity for the Transporter of between 90 and 160 kW·h provides a 160-300 mi range, with a top speed of 70 mph (113 km/h). DC fast charging takes 45 min to add up to 220 mi (354 km) of range.

Udelv says it has already secured more than 1000 reservations including from U.S.-based Donlen and Europe-based companies Planzer and Ziegler Group. The company was also awarded a contract from the U.S. Air Force for a pilot program on Edwards Air Force Base in California.

E-commerce has exploded during the Covid-19 pandemic, with more consumers buying more goods online than ever. Because last-mile delivery services account for more than half of the overall cost of goods, many shippers and e-commerce companies are looking for solutions to keep costs down. Udelv says the Transporter is a solution to those challenges.

“The Transporter will dramatically improve the efficiency and safety of last- and middle-mile delivery services and make deliveries affordable for everyone and everything from electronics and auto parts to groceries and medical supplies,” said Laury.

The new Udelv Transporter can be seen during CES 2022 at the Mobileye Booth in West Hall 4605 at the Las Vegas Convention Center.