Tech and delivery platform Wolt has launched a pilot program in Prague using 20 electric vehicles equipped with swappable batteries, aiming to reduce emissions and improve last-mile delivery efficiency. The initiative is backed by EIT Urban Mobility and developed in collaboration with Romanian EV manufacturer UNY.
The pilot features the Smart Balance Pocket, a compact two-seater city car with a small cargo bed designed for urban deliveries. Each vehicle houses three lithium-ion batteries with the option to install two more for extended range. The base configuration delivers up to 130 kilometres of range and a top speed of 80 kph, according to UNY. Battery swapping, facilitated by a city-wide network of four stations in Prague, allows couriers to exchange depleted batteries for fully charged ones within seconds, eliminating charging downtime.
The program is part of the NG SEED project, which introduces a universal swappable battery ecosystem for zero-emission delivery fleets across six European cities. In addition to Prague, pilots are underway in Warsaw and Budapest with Wolt, and in Timisoara, Bucuresti, and Constanta with delivery firm Glovo. Each city will host the pilot for at least six months.
“By participating in the NG SEED programme, we are testing a system that can reduce CO₂ emissions by up to 90% while halving operating costs,” said Jakub Moťovský, Strategy and Innovation Manager for Wolt Couriers in Central Europe. “I believe that solutions like these can help improve the quality of life in cities.”
Wolt aims to complete more than 70,000 zero-emission deliveries, cover 360,000 kilometres, and cut 25 tonnes of carbon dioxide emissions by the end of the pilot across the three cities where it operates.
