Michelin trials Uptis with DHL Express
With Uptis, DHL can eliminate tyre pressure issues & punctures (Photo: Michelin)
Nearly 50 DHL Express vans will begin running on the Michelin Uptis airless tyre to make last-mile deliveries in Singapore by the end of 2023. The pilot programme begins with the first vehicles making delivery trips from 10 January.
This means that Michelin Uptis tyres are being deployed in real-world conditions a year ahead of schedule. The Michelin Uptis prototype is a puncture-proof wheel/tyre assembly with no compressed air and is intended for cars and light vans. The air has been replaced by a structure capable of supporting the vehicle. Michelin says this ensures the wheel’s robustness and guarantees driving comfort and safety. The tyre maker designed Uptis as a plug-and-play solution that “allows users to drive conveniently and not worry about road hazards impacting the tyres. It also limits the number of tyres scrapped due to punctures.”
With the Michelin Uptis tyre, DHL can optimise its fleet’s productivity and ensure business continuity, as tyre pressure issues and punctures are eliminated. This will lower the frequency of tyre replacement, leading to less wastage.
Another milestone towards net-zero emissions
“As a pioneer in green logistics, we are excited to partner Michelin to trial its airless tyres on our vehicles in Singapore. To drive sustainability efforts here, we have since converted 80 vehicles in our ground fleet to electric vans. This collaboration marks another milestone for us as we set out to green our last mile operations and achieve net-zero carbon emissions across the DHL network globally,” says Christopher Ong, managing director at DHL Express Singapore.
“Michelin Uptis is a major breakthrough innovation in the tyre field. This is a result of some fifty patents linked to the tyre’s structure and high-tech materials. It demonstrates Michelin’s capacity for innovation in favour of safer mobility that is better for the environment. We are delighted that DHL is trusting Michelin to equip its fleet with the very first Michelin UPTIS tyres, marketed one year ahead of schedule,” declares Bruno De Feraudy, director of OEM activities for the Michelin Group.
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