By displaying the ambition to achieve carbon neutrality by 2050, the European Union is deploying real backward planning in the various member states.<\/p>\n
2035, that's it, the date is engraved in European marble.<\/a> From that year, it will be prohibited to sell new gasoline and diesel cars and light utility vehicles, in favor of only electric 100% vehicles. Regulations for heavy goods vehicles are expected very soon in the same spirit.<\/p>\n We can also identify several subjects that directly impact the challenges of urban delivery:<\/strong><\/p>\n One might think that the equation is simple: how to go from gray (fossil fuels) to green (electricity)? Reality requires us to be more pragmatic and nuanced. Let\u2019s talk about 50 shades of greening instead!<\/strong><\/p>\n We can analyze the situation from three complementary angles<\/p>\n We reason in this logic of 50 shades of greening, depending on the capacity to partially or totally decarbonize vehicles.<\/p>\n Indeed, there are currently several alternatives to diesel (which will nevertheless remain the majority energy source for urban delivery vehicles). As an example, we can cite solutions such as gasoline, or even E85<\/a>\u00a0 \u2013 but the offer from manufacturers still remains very limited - bio diesels, such as B100 (from rapeseed or used oils) offer interesting prospects in terms of impact on CO2, while remaining thermal vehicles, or also alternatives such as HVO (Hydrotreated Vegetable Oil) or XTL<\/a> which remain solutions to be studied. It must nevertheless be kept in mind, as with the B100, that the supply of these fuels can only be done through tanks directly installed on the sites, since they are not available at service stations.<\/p>\n Let us also mention CNG (Compressed Natural Gas) which remains an alternative offering a reduction in CO2 emissions, particularly in the context of organic CNG. It is in particular this energy that the sector is interested in, particularly for heavy mobility (which will always have its place in urban delivery). Finally, electric energy is ideal for last mile delivery, provided that the autonomy of the vehicle corresponds to the uses of carriers. Electric energy also requires a study on the potential for electrification of logistics bases and addressable terminals. It is in this segment that we find the dynamic of launches of both utility vehicles and heavy goods vehicles. And hydrogen you ask me? It provides added value if it is produced via a renewable or low-carbon energy source, we then speak of green hydrogen.<\/p>\n The sector is thus structured into supply networks and vehicles, but it will be necessary to wait a few years before reaching real maturity. Retrofit, this action which consists of transforming a thermal vehicle into alternative energy (electric, gas or hydrogen), is also an avenue to be strongly studied, because it is part of a circular economy logic. Subject to being able to address the market broadly with approvals on all models and maintenance solutions available, it represents a very good alternative to follow.<\/p>\n Second angle of analysis: optimize the use of vehicles and their efficiency. The challenges of urban delivery are an excellent opportunity to refine your fleet plan and its sizing: are we talking about a constant need or a seasonality in the management of logistics flows? In the same logic, the definition of vehicles makes sense: should we favor the massification of flows with large volumes transported with trucks or rather target micro loading capacities to gain flexibility? The answer surely lies between the two, the use of trucks and utility vehicles is complementary.<\/p>\n In the field of greening, it is regularly said that the kilometer that emits the least is the one that is not traveled. Route management and optimization software are perfect tools. The use of artificial intelligence makes it possible to test numerous scenarios and takes into account the vagaries of delivery in real time. We can talk about gains of around 30 % in terms of productivity depending on certain professions.<\/p>\n Paying particular attention to the driver is also an interesting approach. There are two important themes with the challenges of urban delivery: consumption and security. Training in eco-driving and driving alternative energy vehicles is a guarantee of economy and greening by optimizing consumption. We can observe up to 40 % difference with trained personnel, the leverage effect is enormous.<\/p>\n The other theme concerns safety, this subject is important both in driving situations and in loading or unloading situations. There are too many accidents that can be avoided with awareness and the right devices, the human factor remains preponderant. The development of many forms of soft mobility is particularly important to take into account for more harmonious cohabitation on the road.<\/p>\n To complete this 50 shades of greening approach, we must also talk about new entrants. On one side we have the \u201ctraditional\u201d European manufacturers who offer an increasingly large range of low-impact vehicles and on the other side new players. Among them, new European manufacturers offering vehicles particularly suited to urban delivery: Volta<\/a> with its heavy weight or Arrival<\/a>. At the same time, American manufacturers (Brighdrop<\/a>, Nikola<\/a> \u2026) or Asian (Hyundai<\/a>, Maxus<\/a> \u2026) are also in the running to come to our markets.<\/p>\n Finally, we have been talking about \u201cvehicles\u201d since the beginning of this article, but we must address the new delivery channels which are starting to be put in place.<\/p>\n The situation is very heterogeneous: some are still in a very experimental phase, but we also find very advanced solutions. As such, cyclo-logistics is one of the best illustrations of innovation among new urban delivery vehicles. This sector is developing extremely quickly and offers prospects in terms of capacity to manage delivery flows, including heavy loads of up to 300 kg payload. This solution thus makes it possible to take advantage of city infrastructures dedicated to bicycles, in particular cycle paths, to benefit from a commercial speed higher than 4-wheel vehicles, while being ecologically excellent.<\/p>\n At the same time, new delivery methods are regularly cited: delivery by river, the use of trams or metros... Ultimately, history is just an eternal restart, these methods having already been used in the past.<\/p>\n And new delivery methods are expected in the years to come. For example, air delivery via drones, which is currently being tested in the United States and France. We will also talk about the increasingly frequent experiments with autonomous vehicles of all sizes. However, we should not imagine a dazzling massification. At this stage, it is already necessary to find the right use cases and resolve numerous technical, societal, regulatory and economic issues before considering deployment in our city centers.<\/p>\n To conclude, it is urgent to act to initiate and amplify the greening of vehicle fleets. This logic must imperatively be global to be beneficial to everyone. Urban delivery is a perfect illustration of the many solutions that are emerging and where innovation is an excellent way to go further, faster.<\/p>\n Consult all the articles written by Fraikin on the SprintProject blog:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n
\u201cHow to go from gray to green? \u00bb<\/em><\/h2>\n
Alternatives to Diesel to decarbonize city delivery<\/strong><\/h3>\n
Optimize the use of urban delivery vehicles<\/strong><\/h3>\n
\" <\/em>Training in eco-driving and driving alternative energy vehicles <\/em>is a guarantee of economy and greening <\/em>\"<\/em><\/h2>\n
A multitude of solutions and players in the delivery market<\/strong><\/h3>\n
\u201cCyclo-logistics is one of the best illustrations of innovation among new urban delivery vehicles\u201d<\/em><\/h2>\n
\u201cit is urgent to act to initiate and amplify the greening of vehicle fleets\u201d<\/em><\/h2>\n
\n