Delivery company Evri (formerly Hermes UK) has begun trialling an e-cargo bike that has been calculated to reduce last-mile carbon emissions by 89%.
The bike is made from natural fiber composite materials and recycled plastics and metals. The trial is being undertaken by an Evri courier in East Yorkshire in the UK who is using it to deliver on his usual rounds to ensure a like-for-like comparison. The savings have been calculated using the fuel saved by not running the courier’s vehicle and then adding back the carbon used to generate the electricity to charge the battery and the extra food eaten by the courier to power it. The trial forms part of the company’s exploration of alternative modes of transportation that are more environmentally friendly.
Adrian Berry, innovation delivery manager at Evri, said, “It is early days as this is one of the first trials into this kind of delivery option but the results look extremely positive. Moving forward it may well play a role in our goal to create a network of sustainable delivery options to supplement our current courier model.”