ONO: E-cargo bikes replace vans at Hermes in Berlin

Up to 100 Shipments Fit in the Swappable Box

The manufacturer offers the three-wheeled, pedal-assisted utility vehicle with two electric motors via a lease agreement with flexible terms. The agreement includes maintenance, comprehensive insurance, any wear-and-tear repairs, and access to battery swapping stations. During the four-week pilot phase, PAT handled deliveries within a radius of three to five kilometers. Depending on the size of the packages, Hermes couriers loaded 80 to 100 shipments into the quickly detachable box.

"The utility vehicle convinced us in practical tests. The cargo bike has many advantages in functionality and meets our high requirements for emission-free parcel delivery," Peuker stated confidently.

He only sees minor areas for improvement in the vehicle. The weatherproof, narrow cargo bike particularly impressed with its loading volume of more than two cubic meters, payload of 220 kilograms, a range of 30 kilometers per battery charge, and pedal assistance of up to 25 km/h. Thanks to the swap principle, the mini-container could also be pre-commissioned at the micro depot before delivery.

"This allowed us to test how it affects delivery when the hub needs to be approached again during a tour to load a new container. Since this was already commissioned, the driver could continue without waiting," reports Thomas Lange, Team Leader Last Mile Management at Hermes.

Parking Problems Mitigated, Long Walks Eliminated

Another advantage of the concept is maneuverability. "We are allowed to drive on bike paths, past traffic jams, and in both directions on many one-way streets. This significantly simplifies operations," explains Peuker. The parking problem, which the couriers face due to the lack of loading zones in city centers, is also mitigated. Additionally, the walking distances for the couriers are reduced. Over the three years of cooperation, the market has seen significant activity, according to the partners. Earlier tests had shown in terms of quality and costs that further development was needed.

"Our hope now rests on a new generation of cargo bikes that need to improve in terms of quality and riding behavior," summarizes Peuker.

Training on the Job: Improvements in Operation

The test phase also proved beneficial for ONO. "Based on a suggestion from a test rider, we installed a net in our cargo unit that helps users separate undelivered packages from those still to be delivered," explains Luise Braun, Coordinator of ONO Pilot Projects. ONO user Martin Schmidt, Managing Director of Cycle Logistics GmbH, who delivers parcels exclusively with cargo bikes for Hermes as a general contractor in Prenzlauer Berg, received consistently positive feedback.

"Due to the good pedal assistance and the ergonomic seat, my employees were not as exhausted at the end of the tours as they were after riding other cargo bikes," reports Schmidt.

Optimal: More Nano Depots Along Delivery Routes

The reverse gear, which not every e-cargo bike has, was also well received. For the cargo bike logistician, the trend in emission-free delivery clearly heads towards interchangeable freight containers. However, for this to work, he suggests further infrastructure improvements.

"In addition to micro depots, it would be ideal to have several smaller nano depots along the route where drivers could simply swap empty containers for loaded and pre-commissioned ones. These nano depots could be lockable containers in backyards," specifies Schmidt.