Autonomous tech startup StreetDrone has provided a preview of its Wilko-branded Pix-E delivery vehicle following an investment by the retailer last summer.
The Pix-e is a small road-going electric delivery vehicle capable of Level 4 autonomous operations. It has eight secure lockers that can only be opened by retailer and customer using associated app technology. It is targeted to enter service in the UK in 2023.
According to StreetDrone, home deliveries are set to double by 2030 meaning that electric driverless technology such as Pix-E has the potential to remove up to two billion car journeys dedicated to shopping from UK roads every year. This would result in a saving of 7,000,000 tons of CO2 emissions, while also providing retailers with packaging-free deliveries to align with forthcoming Extended Producer Responsibility legislation.
Jerome Saint-Marc, CEO at Wilko, said, “This form of technology will allow small independents to compete on a level playing field with large online retailers by reducing the cost of home delivery and giving communities more ways to access their neighborhood shops. But critically as the volume of doorstep deliveries increases, it is incumbent on everyone to design solutions that enhance, not detract from our neighborhoods. That’s why we invested in StreetDrone to explore and test the exciting possibilities Pix-E presents.”
