Zoekresultaten

Explaining the growth in light electric vehicles in city logistics

Research finds that the global market value of cargo bikes will hit 2.4 billion euros by 2031. Analysts with Future Market Insights assessing the growth of cargo bikes have placed the parcel courier industry as a key buyer of electric cargo bikes, forecasting that 43 per cent of sales could go to this industry. This growth is driven by city logistics trends, particularly as studies emerge showing the high efficiency and cost saving of the cargo bike versus the delivery van. It will not solely be direct incentives that drive uptake, however. The policy that restricts motoring and emissions is expected to be a key driver for businesses that seek profitability, with three-wheeled electric cargo bikes making up nearly half the market. The advance of e-bike technology has seen a strong rise in market share for assisted cargo bikes, now accounting for a 73 per cent market share. Potentially limiting the growth is the legislation governing the output and range of electric cargo bikes (FMI, 2021).To deal with the issues of faster delivery, clean delivery (low/zero emission) and less space in dense cities, the light electric freight vehicle (LEFV) can be–and is used more and more as–an innovative solution. The way logistics in urban areas is organized is being challenged, as the global growth of cities leads to more jobs, more businesses and more residents. As a result, companies, workers, residents and visitors demand more goods and produce more waste. More space for logistics activities in and around cities is at odds with the growing need for accommodation for people living and working in cities. Book: Innovations in Transport: Success, Failure and Societal Impacts

The potential of light electric vehicles for specific freight flows

The number of light commercial vehicles in cities is growing, which puts increasing pressure on the liveability of cities. Light electric freight vehicles (LEFV) and cargo bikes can offer a solution, as they occupy less space, can be manoeuvred easily and does not emit tailpipe pollutants. This paper presents the results of the first half-year of the LEVV-LOGIC project (2016-2018), aimed at exploring the potential of LEFVs for various urban freight flows. Delivery characteristics, trends, practical examples and the judgement of experts are combined to assess the potential of LEFVs for seven major urban freight flows. The preliminary analysis concludes that every urban freight flow has a certain level of potential for using LEFV. In particular parcel and food deliveries have high potential; however, deliveries related to services and the last phase of construction work can also be switched to LEFV. In comparison, non-food deliveries to retail establishments and the collection of waste collection have less potential. Though the latter can change when recycling standards become higher.

Designing Light Electric Vehicles for urban freight transport

The number of light commercial vehicles (LCV) in cities is growing, which puts increasing pressure on the liveability of cities. Small electric freight vehicles and cargo bikes can offer a solution, as they take less space, can manoeuvre easily and free from polluting emissions. Within the two-year LEVV-LOGIC project, (2016-2018) the use of light electric freight vehicles (LEFVs) for city logistics is explored. The project combines expertise on logistics, vehicle design, charging infrastructure and business modelling to find the optimal concept. This paper presents guidelines for the design of LEFV based on the standardized rolling container (length 800 mm, width 640 mm, height 1600 mm) and for the charging infrastructure.

Designing Light Electric Vehicles for urban freight transport

The number of light commercial vehicles (LCV) in cities is growing, which puts increasing pressure on the livability of cities. Freight vehicles are large contributors to polluting air and CO2 emissions and generate problems in terms of safety, noise and loss of public space. Small electric freight vehicles and cargo bikes can offer a solution, as they take less space, can maneuver easily and do not emit local pollution. There is an increasing interest in these vehicle, called light electric freight vehicles (LEFV’s), among logistic service providers in European cities. However, various technical and operational challenges impede large scale implementation. Within the two-year LEVV-LOGIC project, (2016-2018) the use of LEFV’s for city logistics is explored. The project combines expertise on logistics, vehicle design, charging infrastructure and business modelling to find the optimal concept in which LEFV’s can be a financial competitive alternative for conventional freight vehicles. This contribution to EVS30 will present the project’s first year results, showing the guideline for and the applied design of LEFV for future urban city logistics.

City logistics: light and electric

Light Electric Freight Vehicles – Beyond the Hype?

The developments in city logistics are leading to an increasing number of smaller, time-sensitive deliveries. The parcel market has consistently grown over the past decade, with emerging business models such as ship-from-store (both B2C and B2B) and quick commerce. Moreover, companies are increasingly striving to become more sustainable. To address the challenges of faster delivery, clean transportation (low/zero-emission), and limited space in dense cities, the Light Electric Freight Vehicle (LEFV) presents itself as an innovative solution. This study focuses on LEFVs, encompassing all vehicles with a logistics application ranging from pedal-assisted cargo bikes to light electric vans (LEFV-N1). We specifically examine fresh goods delivery, parcel delivery, service logistics, and construction logistics for urban logistics applications. The study concentrates on factors that account for the potential growth of various types of LEFVs in the Netherlands across these applications over the next decade. The research methodology involves desk research, validation through workshops, quantitative analysis, and interviews with users, legislators, manufacturers, and dealers/leasing companies. The findings of the study include identification of trends, developments, vehicle characteristics, legal frameworks, potential growth opportunities for LEFVs, policies governing LEFV deployment, user profiles, reasons for deployment, and an estimated count of LEFVs in 2027. This count distinguishes between cannibalization on N1 and the number of LEFVs entering new (and partly non-existent) markets.