DHL Supply Chain has started a trial of e-cargo bikes in Edinburgh, Scotland, for its small-item home delivery service.
Manufactured by EAV, the new bike has a load capacity of 2m³ and a range of around 40 miles on a single charge. The e-cargo bike will deliver items that do not require two-person services but still require special handling. Current plans will see the vehicle make around seven to eight drops a day, carrying around four items at a time. Edinburgh was selected for the trial as its mix of terrain and size of the city provides the ideal environment to test the bike as part of DHL’s last-mile fleet.
This trial comes in the context of DHL’s Go Green agenda and target of net-zero emissions by 2050, which included the 2020 launch of the UK’s first fully electric 16-metric ton truck in London’s West End shopping district.
Natalie Frow, vice president of operations and home delivery at DHL Supply Chain, said, “With ambitious sustainability targets to hit, we’re always looking for new ways to structure the mix of our fleet to reduce overall emissions. The EAV e-cargo bike has the potential to transform the way we make many home deliveries, not just in the urban environment but across the country, so we’re looking forward to seeing the results of the trial.”
Leo Bethell, head of partnerships at EAV, said, “It’s pivotal for the logistics industry to adapt to the changing urban environment, by embracing transport that is clean, efficient and unsusceptible to congestion. DHL has the opportunity to positively disrupt legacy operational models, while hitting its sustainability targets, with our zero emissions, lightweight vehicles. We’re looking forward to demonstrating the value of the EAV 2Cubed in Edinburgh and hopefully developing our partnership with DHL.”
