E-commerce and the last mile carbon footprint: the cargo bike – the perfect solution?

Based on data from one of the largest French players in freight transport, we have shown in a recent study that two-thirds of its business to and from Paris could be carried out by cargo bicycle.

This result – based on an economic analysis in which the weight of the transported parcels was taken as the criterion – creates an intriguing perspective for the freight transport sector, regularly highlighted as the main emitter of greenhouse gases (14% of French emissions). In addition, there are many negative externalities that are particularly crucial in the city. (traffic congestion, noise pollution, etc.).

Let us also remember that road transport remains the main mode of urban deliveries today; in France, 88% of freight transport is carried out by trucks.

If there are several solutions for modal shift over long distances (rail, river), cyclology currently represents the only sustainable solution to decarbonise the last kilometre – the most emission-intensive one.

The development of e-commerce

The challenge of decarbonising freight transport is twofold: adapting the current model in favour of more virtuous practices (for example cyclology) while integrating ever-increasing flows.

In particular, e-commerce is taking up an increasing share of our consumption patterns. (+4% share in retail trade in 2018-2020).

This will require an enhance in the fleet needed for city logistics, with estimates predicting a 36% enhance in truck distances in major cities worldwide. by 2030 if no action is taken. This would lead to many negative effects, such as a acute enhance in traffic congestion, greenhouse gas emissions, etc.

Micro-hubs in the heart of cities

Therefore, the development of cyclology should be considered a priority. However, the utilize of cargo bikes requires special organization. The location of sorting platforms, usually on the outskirts of cities, is not suitable for this type of transport. Their low transport capacity and reduced speed compared to a truck also limit their range of operation.

It seems therefore necessary to utilize micro-hubs in the heart of cities, where cargo bikes will run from these points in a star formation. However, two limitations must be raised.

On the one hand, cyclology requires the transformation of commercial premises, traditionally occupied by shops, in order to transform them into logistics platforms. These up-to-date non-public places, the so-called shadowy shopswill compete with the commercial fabric currently located in the hearts of cities.

On the other hand, adding an additional stage in the logistics chain involves additional costs (mainly land costs) that need to be compensated, for example, by a high density of activities in the area of ​​micro-nodes.

Thus, some geographic areas seem to be more conducive to implementing cyclology than others. To compensate for this additional cost, research is currently underway to utilize containers or trucks as micro-hubs. Although these solutions do not compete with the current commercial fabric, they do involve land development in public spaces.

The end of trucks in the city?

Finally, cyclology does not have to mean the end of trucks in the city. In fact, it is necessary to power the microhubs on a daily basis, which themselves must be connected to sorting platforms located on the outskirts.

What’s more, it’s currently not possible to transport too hefty (maximum 250 kg) or too vast parcels with a cargo bike – this means transporting them by truck. Operators are therefore moving towards a mixed fleet.

In conclusion, if cyclology is a path to explore towards green logistics, it also presents some challenges that require vigilance. Among others, the development shadowy shops in the heart of cities, which in the long term may harm the commercial fabric.

Finally, let us not forget that the final consumer is the creator of e-commerce demand and related flows. Changing consumption behavior in favor of less immediate demand remains the most appropriate action to reduce the environmental impact of logistics.