35 sleek trucks smoothing their way around Europe with increased visibility to decrease dangers for pedestrians and reduce drag for energy efficiency.
UPS is trying out 35 electric vehicles with curved edges and a flat front."The curved edges give truck drivers a wider field of vision that allows them have better awareness of cyclists and pedestrians. This is part of the Arrival’s focus on equipping the new vehicle with Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS) that improve safety and reduce driver fatigue," Lianna Brinded reports for Quartz.
The fleet which will launch in Europe, and be built by the UK company Arrival. "While this fleet of trucks is new, UPS’ involvement in electric vehicles isn’t. Over the past decade, UPS has invested over $750 million in alternative fuel and advanced technology vehicles," Brinded writes.
Vehicles with large blocky fronts have been linked to an increase in pedestrian deaths in the US, in part because of visibility issues caused by vehicles with high blocky fronts.
FULL STORY: The futuristic safety reason behind why UPS electric trucks are so adorable
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City of Albany
UCLA Lewis Center for Regional Policy Studies
Mpact (formerly Rail~Volution)
Chaddick Institute at DePaul University
City of Piedmont, CA
Great Falls Development Authority, Inc.
HUDs Office of Policy Development and Research