Volkswagen Group Research, Deutsche Post AG (the German Post Office) and the University of Art at Braunschweig have come together to design the delivery van of tomorrow - the Volkswagen eT! (nothing to do with extra-terrestrials). The eT! made its debut at the Design Centre, Potsdam.
The goals for the eT! included zero emissions driving, semi-automatic control, simplifying work flows and building an emotionally appealing vehicle - so the press release says anyway. Volkswagen admits that this is not a vehicle that will be on sale soon but the company is planning for a world of lightweight commercial vehicles with electric drive.
To make life easy for delivery drivers there is a two-position sliding door on the passenger side - the side nearest the kerb. This allows the driver easy access to the load area without having to walk all the way round the van. There is even a 'drive stick' that provides control of the vehicle from the passenger seat.
Volkswagen has also come up with the idea of driverless control. There is a 'Follow me' function where the van can follow the driver from house to house and a 'Come to me' option where the van will find its way, driverless, to the delivery person. About the only thing the eT! can't do is phone home...
Although designed for postal services Volkswagen says the eT! is adaptable for 'all conceivable business uses'. A research vehicle will undergo driving tests and further analysis.