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Mercedes-Benz to pair eSprinter vans with e-cargo bike
A new pilot program aimed at making last mile deliveries greener has been initiated by Mercedes Benz.
The eSprinter effectively becomes a micro-depot with the electric van’s cargo being offloaded onto an ONO electric cargo bike which then completes the last-mile deliveries
With this system, the electric van can either go to the next e-cargo transfer point with another container, or both the van and the e-cargo bike can make deliveries in parallel, which can help decrease traffic congestion and improve delivery times.
Logistics UK’s Senior Policy Advisor, Denise Beedell commented: “Urban congestion and diminishing road space means lots of challenges for urban delivery companies to meet customer expectations of fast and sustainable deliveries. It’s great to see new innovations in vehicle design coming to market that address these issues.”
The electric van used in the pilot program is based on an eSprinter, but is actually a “technology demonstrator” dubbed the SUSTAINEER (for SUSTAINability pionEER), which is used to test “many innovative concepts for future delivery transport”.
The SUSTAINEER van has an integrated hydraulic lifting arm with rollers to load and unload the containers, which have a volume of more than two cubic meters and a payload capacity of 200 kg (440.9 lb), and the van can fit two containers plus shelving for other packages.
When the van reaches a transfer point, the container, which has wheels on the bottom, can be quickly unloaded from the van and then rolled onto an ONO electric cargo bike, after which the e-bike makes the last-mile deliveries for the packages in the container.
With the containers loaded correctly so that the parcels are in order of delivery along the route, the driver of the e-cargo bike can make the last-mile deliveries efficiently and quickly.
Published On: 25/04/2024 15:27:09
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