ONO concept: Combined transport in the city with tram and cargo bike

“Even with emission-free electric vehicles, we won't solve traffic congestion in cities. With the Cargo Tram and integrated cargo bike delivery, we are offering an ecologically and economically sensible alternative that has a lot of potential,” warns Professor Dr. Kai-Oliver Schocke, Director of the Research Lab for Urban Transport, who also oversaw the Frankfurt pilot project.

For Jennifer Dungs, Head of Mobility at EIT InnoEnergy, the “car-centered urban transport infrastructure” is increasingly reaching its limits. The future of urban logistics therefore belongs to concepts like the one presented here, where rail and entirely new vehicle types efficiently and sustainably interlock for the ‘last mile,’ believes the mobility expert. The standardized containers can significantly simplify the delivery route as they would be used throughout the entire journey.

“Additionally, the use of modern track-and-trace communication systems enables quick location, monitoring, and processing,” explains Onomotion CEO Beres Seelbach.

His company has developed a three-wheeled e-cargo bike, the PAT (Pedal Assisted Transporter), which meets the necessary requirements and has recently been marketed. At inner-city stops, only small buffer zones would be necessary to temporarily store the containers, further outlining the idea. This optimizes the operational processes of trams and e-cargo bikes. Container transports could be integrated into public transport timetables or organized as single trips, guaranteeing higher transport volumes, according to the ideal scenario.

Standardized containers enable and accelerate intermodal transport

The potential of distributing freight traffic across multiple carriers has been demonstrated by global trade for decades, where standardized containers have first enabled and then accelerated intermodal transport, they argue. The authors show, using the example of Frankfurt am Main with a freight volume of 14,500 daily parcels in urban districts, that 80 percent, or around 11,600 parcels, could be delivered by Cargo Tram and e-cargo bike. Only 20 percent or around 2,900 deliveries would still need to be handled via traditional methods due to size and weight, according to forecasts.

Traffic relief, emissions reduction, and cost savings

The major advantage of such a hybrid supply chain lies not only in relieving road traffic but also in reducing CO2 emissions. The exemplary volume of 14,500 parcels in the urban area generates only 1.1 tons of CO2 when using a combination of various carriers with standardized containers, according to calculations, compared to a single transport route by truck or van, resulting in a saving of almost 64 percent.

Simultaneously, this approach is cost-effective at 27.62 euros per cubic meter compared to the conventional transport route. This makes it attractive not only for the CEP (courier, express, and parcel) sector but also for brick-and-mortar retailers, municipalities, and the grocery retail industry offering deliveries to the doorstep (eGrocery). Public transport companies could also benefit from the Cargo Tram principle by fully utilizing a tram’s capacity through mixed use and avoiding empty trips, they further promote the model.

E-cargo bikes take over the "last mile"

In this model, e-cargo bikes would take over the “last mile” from the stop to the customer. They offer the advantages of a fast, narrow, and maneuverable cargo bike, combined with a loading volume of two cubic meters and a maximum payload of 220 kilograms in the interchangeable container. The boxes, equipped with RFID locking systems, can be docked onto the vehicle’s chassis with a few simple steps. Easy handling is guaranteed due to the ground-level loading capability. The vehicle significantly relieves street infrastructure due to its small footprint, the Berliners believe. With dual batteries, the bikes are good for a supportive range of about 60 kilometers, after which the battery can be swapped out.

“There are some good solutions for future city logistics. However, to sustainably reduce traffic volume and emissions, an intermodal delivery chain is indispensable. This requires joint action from industry, the public sector, and authorities,” demands Seelbach.