Electric bike trailer delivery trialled in London
Global delivery firm UPS is trialling an electric bike trailer in London.
The delivery of parcels up to 200kg has packages loaded into “pay load boxes” and delivered by trailer to a central hub where they are distributed by power assisted trailers, the parcels delivered to homes and businesses by bicycle or on foot.
It’s part of the Low Impact City Logistics project to reduce traffic congestion and emissions, which will also reduce noise.
UPS delivery trials included using three-wheeler electric bikes in Switzerland.
UPS says the way packages are delivered across the United Kingdom could drastically change if the trial is successful.
The electric assisted trailers ensure the weight isn’t felt by the user and regenerative braking repowers the battery.
Electric delivery trikes were also trialled in Basel, Switzerland, in 2015, and battery-powered cargo bikes were first used by UPS in Hamburg, Germany, in 2012.
The cargo bikes reduce the time spent looking for suitable parking and work well in narrow European streets, UPS says.
UPS has similar projects in five other German cities, plus two in Belgium and Italy, one in Toulouse, France, and in Dublin, Ireland.
The Hamburg model encouraged UPS to also recently start e-bike deliveries in downtown Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
UPS’ “rolling laboratory” project includes real-world testing of more than 8500 low-emission vehicles.
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