Onomotion: E-cargo bikes deliver packaging-free for alpakas

The Berlin startup alpakas, a delivery service for unpackaged groceries, has added an e-cargo bike from ONOMOTION to its vehicle fleet for last-mile delivery since early December. With the PAT-Bike and its interchangeable cargo module, the startup's more than 500 organic products are delivered not only quickly and efficiently but also emission-free, according to the provider. The sleek and all-weather “mini transporter” is used in numerous districts of the capital to deliver online-ordered goods and to transport reusable containers back to the warehouse in central Berlin. The advantage here has been the functionality of the three-wheeled commercial vehicle, which is legally classified as a bicycle and is modeled after mini transporters with automotive design and a payload capacity of 200 kilograms.

Pre-commissioning of online orders thanks to interchangeable box

The removable and rollable cargo module, which offers two cubic meters of loading volume, proved to be practical as it provides enough space for the sender's sturdy jute bags. The containers can be detached with a few simple steps and rolled into the spacious and modern warehouse via a ramp. There, the cargo module can be pre-commissioned directly based on online orders into reusable glass jars, cloth bags, or compostable packaging. Inside the box, the delivery service uses specially inserted shelves to separate goods and returned empty containers. Orders that arrive one hour before delivery times can even be delivered on the same day, the company promises. 

“Grocery deliveries have gained enormous popularity, but often the focus in delivery and content is just on convenience. We offer a sustainable and eco-friendly alternative,” explains alpakas founder Simon Chorzelski.

Besides the zero-waste principle, emission-free delivery with e-cargo bikes is an important component of the delivery service’s sustainability strategy. According to ONOMOTION CEO Beres Seelbach, two visions come together here. The consumption of packaging waste in Germany increases annually. At the same time, the COVID-19 pandemic has helped grocery delivery services grow. The zero-waste delivery service aims to counteract the rising waste volume and prevent it from occurring in the first place. The startup procures goods in bulk.

Milkman principle: optimized route

The delivery service relies on the milkman principle. Riders follow a pre-optimized route to serve as many households as possible on one tour, as Chorzelski explains. This also relieves the riders. Groceries are not delivered on the riders’ backs but in the cargo box. Riders remain dry thanks to the closed cabin and underbody protection of the heavy e-cargo bike and can bypass traffic jams.

“This way, we can offer them a stress-free and uncomplicated workplace,” Chorzelski promotes.

Relief also comes from the electric assistance, typically with two batteries and a range of 25 kilometers each. This is completely sufficient for a delivery tour with many short stops within a radius of about five kilometers, says the delivery service. When the cargo bike returns to the warehouse, the batteries are recharged overnight with green electricity.

Clever rental model helps startups stay liquid

alpakas uses the bikes in a rental model known as Vehicle-as-a-Service, rather than purchasing them. The agreement includes regular maintenance, comprehensive insurance, wear and tear repairs, and access to Swobbee’s battery swap stations.

This is an advantage for the company, founded in 2021 by Tomy Eitner, Antony Roczek, and Simon Chorzelski in Berlin, which offers a daily delivery service for sustainable groceries and household goods with more than 500 products. The startup delivers in the districts of Mitte, Kreuzberg, Prenzlauer Berg, Wedding, Moabit, and the EU-Opacity, as well as partially in the districts of Neukölln, Friedrichshain, Schöneberg, Pankow, Reinickendorf, and Wilmersdorf. More cities are to follow.