Chinese EV battery company U Power is using AI technology for an autonomous battery swapping logistics vehicle.

The launch follows road testing, and represents a milestone in U Power’s electrification strategy for sustainable logistics operations, achieving full autonomous battery swapping and self-driving capabilities across long-haul, regional and last-kilometre deliveries.

Jia Li, CEO of U Power (www.upincar.com), said to meet the rapidly growing global demand for last-kilometre logistics, delivery vehicles often needed to operate continuously for 24 hours under high-intensity conditions. This creates significant demand for fully autonomous driving and energy replenishment in electric logistics vehicles.

The integration of autonomous driving technology with the Uotta automated battery swapping system presents an option for achieving fully automated, unmanned operations.

Autonomous logistics vehicles in the market rely on manual plug-in charging for energy replenishment, making it impossible to achieve truly unmanned operations. However, based on Uotta’s battery swapping technology and through integration with AI technology, the system has achieved self-adaptive autonomous battery swap station matching in terms of perception, decision-making and control mechanisms.

“This has enabled the complete automation and unmanning of electric vehicle battery swap stations, ultimately achieving unmanned energy replenishment for autonomous vehicles, creating the world’s first fully autonomous new energy vehicle,” said Jia Li.

U Power’s autonomous battery-swapping logistics vehicle employs an AI algorithm system based on convolutional neural network (CNN) architecture to process multi-sensor data streams. This generates real-time path planning and decision-making, enhancing the vehicle’s emergency response capabilities in unexpected road situations. Additionally, the product’s data interface and cloud platform can integrate with various logistics enterprises and park systems, significantly improving transportation efficiency.

The autonomous logistics vehicles with self-operating battery swap capability are primarily targeted at logistics and industrial parks. With the development needs of industrial internet and lighthouse factories under the low-carbon economy, automated green logistics systems centred on autonomous vehicles have become an irreplaceable transportation mode for these facilities. This technology could reduce overall green logistics operating costs by over 46%, presenting a massive market opportunity worth hundreds of billions of dollars globally.

“We have already initiated contact with prominent logistics companies in multiple markets, including Hong Kong, Thailand, Mexico, Peru and Portugal, to jointly promote the comprehensive application of autonomous logistics vehicles with self-operating battery swap capability and support,” said Jia Li. “Through continuous technological innovation and market expansion, we will meet the green logistics transportation needs of various industry clients, providing robust momentum for low-carbon sustainable development.”