Promoting cleaner urban freight vehicles and more efficient goods distribution.
Despite significant urban traffic deriving from commercial goods deliveries, urban logistics is neglected in mobility planning. Diesel-fuelled vehicles remain dominant for “last mile” deliveries, as they are relatively flexible and cheap.
Yet they take up more space than cars, require room to load and unload, and are major polluters. The e-commerce explosion is also bringing more freight than ever into cities.
To meet new emissions rules and in light of the scarcity of public space, more efficient supply chains, innovative consolidation solutions, and clean freight vehicles are needed.
Making deliveries from micro-depots with cargo bikes, using e-vehicles at consolidation centres on city peripheries, and off-peak deliveries are just some of the ways to reduce heavy and light duty traffic, energy consumption, and emissions.
Urban air logistics is also set to play an increasing role in the future.