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30. November 2020The volume of parcel services is increasing, but not the wages
1. December 2020(Kempten/Prague) Dachser is launching a pilot project in the Czech Republic for the logistical supply of Prague’s city center using an electrically assisted cargo bike. The newly established micro-hub “Depot.Bike” at the Florenc subway station will be utilized for this purpose. The cargo bike is the first step towards a “Dachser Emission-Free Delivery” zone for the Prague city center.
Adapting Processes to Latest Developments
As a globally operating logistics service provider headquartered in Germany, Dachser continuously adapts its processes and services to the latest developments as well as to social and demographic changes. One of the driving factors is currently the enormous increase in traffic in large cities and the associated environmental burdens, as well as the reduction in quality of life for residents. Cities are responding with restrictions, for example, on older diesel vehicles.
“Dachser’s central Research & Development department analyzes alternative drive methods for vehicles and proposes new delivery concepts for emission-free deliveries in the area of city logistics,” reports Jan Pihar, Managing Director European Logistics Dachser Czech Republic. He further states: “For this reason, we have extensive experience with the use of electric cargo bikes in many European cities, making the decision to also start a pilot project in Prague a logical one – even though the city has not yet imposed entry restrictions.”
Preparation for “Dachser Emission-Free Delivery”
In the pilot phase of the project, Dachser plans to supply the pedestrian zones in the Prague 1 district. Every morning, trucks deliver the day’s shipments from the Dachser branch in Kladno, about 30 km west of Prague, to the micro-hub Depot.Bike near the city center. The deliveries will then be individually dispatched using the electrically assisted cargo bike.
In later phases, the concept is expected to gradually expand to the districts of Prague 4, Prague 5, and Prague 7 – supported by electric trucks for heavy and bulky pallet shipments. The main recipients of these deliveries will likely be fashion stores, pharmacies, and medical supply stores, as well as DIY markets. “Gradually replacing small conventional delivery vehicles is a sustainable solution to relieve traffic in Prague and improve the smog problem. We want to actively contribute to this as part of our corporate strategy,” Pihar adds.
Initially Only Carton Goods
Dachser will use a pedelec from the company Velotaxi Bring. The cargo bike has a loading space of 0.4 loading meters and can carry a load equivalent to a European pallet loaded to a height of 1.2 m and a maximum weight of 250 kg. Initially, only shipments packed in cartons will be delivered with the cargo bike, but in the future, the company also plans to use pallets that will be gradually unpacked along the delivery route. Ideally, these initiatives will culminate in a “Dachser Emission-Free Delivery” zone for the relevant area, where various vehicle types are integrated into an intelligent overall concept. The pilot project will be continuously evaluated in collaboration with the operator of the micro-hub, a specialist in e-bikes named ekolo.cz, and in cooperation with TSK Prague (Technical Road Administration) as well as the Prague Institute for Planning and Development. The first results are expected after six months of practical operation.
Photo: © Dachser
