As part of its zero-emission delivery goal, FedEx Express has expanded its UK fleet of e-cargo bikes with the introduction of 13 to the cities of Edinburgh, Glasgow and Cambridge.
These e-cargo bikes will work alongside the company’s vehicle pick-up and delivery fleets in each of these cities as well as its existing e-cargo bikes in London, where they have replaced diesel vehicles in emissions restricted zones.
The sustainability benefits of e-cargo bike include reduced carbon emissions, congestion and noise pollution. Bicycle couriers can also make use of existing road infrastructure, such as bicycle and bus lanes, and are able to find curbside parking more easily than vans – particularly in hard-to-access areas. The implementation of e-cargo bikes to operations in Edinburgh, Glasgow and Cambridge is therefore expected to promote the livability of dense urban areas as the rising demand for deliveries competes with need to reduce the environmental impacts of transportation.
FedEx has committed to carbon-neutral operations globally by 2040, with the electrification of its pick-up and delivery vehicles a major area of its investment. In March 2021, FedEx also announced that it is aiming to make 50% of all of its new vehicles electric by 2025 and 100% of all its new purchases electric by 2030. The rollout of e-cargo bikes is planned to continue in UK cities beyond these three newly added cities alongside the company’s transition to fully electric vehicles.
Alun Cornish, operations managing director of FedEx Europe, said, “Electric cargo bikes will fulfill a sustainable last-mile delivery solution for customers in and around Edinburgh, Glasgow and Cambridge city centers. Earlier FedEx pilots in the cities made the case for transitioning to two wheels, proving an effective alternative to vans thanks to their ability to take shorter, faster routes. We see real potential for e-cargo bikes to complement and work alongside our motorized vehicle fleet as we strive to make zero-emissions deliveries our standard.”