Hermes says it is continuing tests of the Mubea eCargo bike around the German city of Leipzig. The vehicle, which was specially developed for the last-mile delivery industry, has been used for deliveries in the Mockau and Eutritzsch districts and transported an average of almost 70 shipments per day.
“Our conclusion is very positive,” said Thomas Breunig, who oversaw the tests as manager, last mile, at Hermes Germany. “You can tell immediately that the pedelec comes from a manufacturer with automotive know-how and that a lot of work has been put into it. The body is very good and thanks to the suspension it is possible to drive smoothly and quickly even on bumpy roads.
“During the entire test period, the responsible engineer from the manufacturer was on-site and was available as a contact person for suggestions for improvement and tips, to see how the prototype can be further optimized for the CEP industry.”
The starting point for operations with the eCargo was a Hermes delivery base in the center of Leipzig. The pedelec has a range of up to 100km and is designed for daily use with a payload of 335kg and a loading capacity of up to 2m3.
“Leipzig is currently the fastest growing city in Germany. The traffic situation is correspondingly tense, which brings challenges such as the shortage of parking spaces, high vehicle volumes and time access restrictions,” noted Breunig. “That is why we are in constant contact with manufacturers of alternative vehicle models that offer some advantages over classic vans in densely populated areas and still hold large quantities of shipments.”
Thanks to the use of both Mercedes eSprinter vans and cargo bikes, every fifth Hermes delivery in Leipzig is now emissions-free.