Innovation: UPS Tests Electric Cargo Bike

UPS is testing an electrically supported cargo bike for the delivery and pickup of packages in far away Basel, Switzerland. UPS is exploring the economic and ecological viability of this alternative mode of transportation for city-center delivery over a period of four weeks.

The company already uses battery-aided cargo bikes in Hamburg, Germany.

The battery-supported tricycle has a capacity of 1.5 cubic meters and can carry loads weighing up to 150 kilograms. Including the 250W battery, the cargo bike weighs 115 kilograms.

Thanks to its compact design and width of just 1 meter, the bike is ideally suited for inner-city use.

“By using cargo bikes in a targeted manner, UPS aims to reduce inner-city congestion, noise and emissions,” said Philip Healey, marketing manager, UPS Switzerland. “This form of urban delivery also offers a distinct advantage to UPS itself, as it reduces the time spent on searching for a suitable parking position, saving valuable time.”

A public-private working group focusing on city logistics in Basel will study the insights gained from the trial.

The Basel pilot project is part of a global UPS strategy to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions.

In 2013, UPS reduced absolute CO2 emissions by 1.5 percent compared to the previous year, even while the global transport volume increased by 3.9 percent during the same period.

UPS is a global leader in logistics, offering a broad range of solutions including transporting packages and freight; facilitating international trade, and deploying advanced technology to more efficiently manage the world of business.

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