Parcel delivery firm UPS trials environmentally-friendly bike trailers to replace diesel trucks in central London

Delivery giant UPS is aiming to fight congestion and harmful emissions by using fleets of electric-powered bicycle trailers in central London.

The first prototype goes on trial in Camden today, taking parcels from the company’s Kentish Town depot.

If the experiment is successful, UPS says the fleets could be rolled out across the capital and to cities such as Paris, Tokyo and Beijing.

The trailer has a removable “payload box”, a battery-powered electric motor and a computer-controlled coupling to a standard pedal-powered bicycle.

As soon as the pedalling starts, the motor whirrs into life, propelling the 150kg trailer and its 200kg cargo along without any extra strain on the rider.

The trailer — which can also be pulled by a person on foot — has pneumatic tyres, hydraulic disc brakes and lights. Roughly the width of a cyclist, it is also short enough so that its operator and other riders can see over it in traffic.

Regenerative braking means that when the trailer slows, it recharges its battery. The payload box has roller bearings for swift transfers at the depot. Following winter trials, UPS will introduce a “super trailer” — large enough for six payload boxes — which will be towed by a standard UPS truck to central London hubs. From there, the boxes will be rolled onto fleets of bicycle trailers for “last-mile deliveries”.

UPS says each super trailer will replace one diesel truck. It is applying for a licence to use the smaller trailers on pavements. The trailers and boxes were designed and engineered by Fernhay.