UPS has established what it says is the first micro hub in the UK. Operating from a converted shipping container, the hub will serve as a consolidation and dispatch point for packages bound for Cambridge city center.
Electric-assisted quad cycles
The hub will be home to three electric-assisted quad cycles, known as eQuads. The eQuads, developed by UK-based company Fernhay, can use cycle lanes and dual-use pedestrianized zones, ensuring safe access to areas where cars and trucks are restricted. These vehicles provide final-mile delivery to residential and commercial properties in the city with zero tailpipe emissions – supporting deliveries typically made in two conventional diesel vans.
Global sustainability goals
The investment not only supports UPS’s global sustainability goals of network decarbonization, it also aligns with Cambridge’s Clean Air initiative – a citywide effort to reduce emissions in the city center by promoting more sustainable methods for local deliveries.
Artur Drenk, director of sustainability at UPS EMEAI, commented, “As cities worldwide adopt eco-friendly transportation measures, such as low-emission and zero-emission zones, we are at the forefront, aligning our operations with more sustainable solutions. The Cambridge hub is evidence of our dedication to serving customers and communities while reducing our footprint on the ground.”
In related news, UPS Healthcare recently invested €55m (US$60m) in two facilities in Italy – adding 100,000m2 of warehouse space in Passo Corese near Rome and Somaglia in Lodi. Click here to read the full story.