As urban freight volumes increase and sustainability pressures intensify, cities are exploring innovative solutions to mitigate the environmental impact of transportation. One emerging concept is the Driverless Multipurpose Vehicle (DMV)—an autonomous, electric heavy-duty vehicle capable of switching between transport applications or combining them during a single operation. But how do these modular vehicles compare to traditional combustion and battery-electric trucks in terms of energy consumption and fleet efficiency?
A recent study by Nybacka, Jenelius, O’Reilly, and Falkgrim provides a first-of-its-kind analysis of the energy implications of DMV fleets in urban logistics. Using a custom electric vehicle routing problem (EVRP) model, the researchers simulated 96 urban logistics scenarios, varying vehicle types, routing patterns, and operational conditions. The simulations compared fleets of DMVs, battery electric vehicles (BEVs), and conventional combustion vehicles (CVs) to assess their total fleet energy consumption and required fleet size.
Key Findings
The results were telling: combustion vehicles consistently consumed two to five times more energy than their electric counterparts for the same operations. This underscores the pressing need to shift away from fossil-fueled logistics fleets, particularly in dense urban environments where environmental and public health impacts are most acute.
Between BEVs and DMVs, energy consumption was similar in most scenarios, but DMVs outperformed BEVs in several cases. Notably, DMVs required fewer vehicles to complete the same transport tasks in some operations. This is attributed to their modular and flexible design, which allows them to carry different cargo types or fulfill multiple roles during a single trip—maximizing vehicle utilization and operational efficiency.
Why DMVs Matter
The study’s insights suggest that DMVs could play a significant role in reducing fleet size and overall energy consumption in urban freight systems. In a future where road transport demand is projected to increase dramatically—and where over 85% of the global population is expected to live in urban areas—such innovations are crucial for maintaining mobility while meeting climate change goals.
Furthermore, as the logistics industry embraces electrification and automation, the integration of autonomous, multi-role vehicles like DMVs could lead to entirely new operating models. These could include dynamic fleet deployment, reverse logistics integration, and on-demand modular transport services.
Outlook
While still an emerging concept, Driverless Multipurpose Vehicles offer promising sustainability and efficiency benefits for urban logistics. As this technology matures, further real-world pilots and simulations will be essential to understand its full potential and operational boundaries. For city planners, logistics providers, and technology developers, DMVs may represent a critical puzzle piece in designing the next generation of clean, smart, and adaptive urban freight systems.