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Faster, Greener
Better still, delivery routes will be shorter. Instead of driving in and out of the city with every load, vans and cars will shuttle goods from the mall to offices, and to downtown apartments. Ideally, this would be combined with greener delivery vehicles. I mentioned the electric-powered trikes above, but there are other options. In Dublin, for example, UPS is testing electric-powered handcarts, with drop-in containers full of parcels. Once a fulfillment center is close to the customer, you no longer need gas-powered trucks and vans. Smaller, human-powered vehicles are possible. Currently, deliveries cause major congestion in cities, so anything that might ease that would be welcome. Then again, it could just mean more traffic. “There are far too many diesel-powered vans delivering parcels for residents and businesses,” says Professor Bailey, “when consolidation and co-ordinated ’last mile’ deliveries by EVs and cargo bikes will reduce congestion and improve air quality for all.”
