GLS is testing parcel deliveries with electric vehicles in Austria and has deployed an electric cargo bike in Leipzig, Germany, as part of its regular delivery operations, following successful tests.
As the first parcel operator in Austria, GLS is now delivering parcels using eScooters, with the trial phase now taking place in Graz, Linz and Salzburg. If the tests results are positive, the electric vehicles will be used in regular operations after that.
The eScooter reaches a maximum speed of 45 km per hour and doesn’t make almost any noise. Furthermore, its compact design eliminates the need for a parking space which can be at times difficult to find. This makes the eScooter ideal for delivery in residential areas and shopping streets.
The eScooter has a capacity of 750 l and a range of 100 km. "The eScooter combines environmental friendliness with efficient delivery," Dr. Axel Spörl, General Manager GLS Austria, said.
Conventional delivery vehicles deliver the parcels to the city, where they are re-loaded onto the eScooter. This way parcels can also be delivered to addresses that are difficult to reach due to building sites, driving bans for cars or the size of the road for transporters. Thanks to five batteries, the electric vehicle has enough power for a complete tour. It is charged at night via a standard power socket.
"In all three cities, the eScooter strikes great interest and we receive positive feedback from customers and recipients, "Spörl explained. "We hope that the tests will provide us with valuable information so that the eScooters can soon be used in regular operations.“
In Germany, GLS has been successfully testing an electric cargo bike for deliveries of smaller parcels in different districts of Leipzig since March. Since May, the bike has been part of the company’s regular delivery operations.
Since GLS has started using the e-bike in Leipzig, the number of private recipients in particular has risen sharply. "In the past, we would have had to use an additional van," Marc Baumgarte, Regional Manager East, GLS Germany, said. "In many ways, the bicycle is the better alternative."
Thanks to the well-developed network of cycle paths in the delivery area, the e-bike is more suitable than a van and the numerous stops are handled faster. The delivery driver currently delivers 60 to 70 parcels daily.
The battery power of the e-bike is sufficient for the complete tour. It is charged overnight at the parking lot in the delivery area. On the day of delivery, the e-bike takes on the pre-sorted parcels in several GLS parcel shops along the route.
The new delivery vehicle has been very well received by Leipzig's city authorities, the citizens and the recipients. Together with the responsible transport company, GLS is now checking the possibility of using a second e-bike in Leipzig.
In summer 2016, GLS Germany started parcel deliveries via e-bikes in Constance for the first time. Since then, other cities and vehicle types have been added continuously, for example e-vans and eScooters. GLS Germany currently uses a total of around 20 e-vehicles for delivery, while others are used in the company's own fleet. GLS is constantly examining additional possibilities for using e-vehicles throughout Europe and is closely monitoring innovations in the market.
"E-vehicles make a valuable contribution to achieving the goals of the Group-wide environmental initiative ThinkGreen and reducing CO2 levels in urban areas,“ GLS added.
