Schindler/DB Smart City Initiative: Elevator service from the micro depot by cargo bike

The elevator specialist Schindler Germany has established its first service container at Berlin Gesundbrunnen station in cooperation with the DB Smart City initiative. From there, the company's elevator technicians set off on their service missions using cargo bikes. Over 100 elevator systems will be maintained and repaired in an environmentally and traffic-friendly manner from this so-called "Flexpoint" in the surrounding area, outlines the provider.

"With the start of the Flexpoint project, we are relieving urban traffic, reducing our CO2 footprint, and at the same time ensuring that our customers are served promptly," promotes Stefan Janßen, Executive Management Service & Repairs at Schindler Deutschland AG & Co. KG.

Michael Eckenweber, Head of DB Smart Cities, sees this as a fitting project. Due to its location at the station, the micro-hub offers a central hub for the storage and redistribution of goods. That's why they support the service.

The combination of the so-called Flexpoint, a container solution, and the cargo bikes, called Light Electric Vehicles (LEV) from the recently acquired Berlin manufacturer Citcar by Mubea, reduces the CO2 emissions of the Schindler service fleet and also leads to less traffic, less space usage, less noise, and fewer occupied parking spaces. The cargo bikes can bypass traffic jams and may be parked on sidewalks without obstructing pedestrians, explains the provider further. Thus, the lengthy search for parking spaces is avoided. At the same time, the required spare parts are ready at the door in the LEV. Long walking distances are eliminated, the deployment is completed faster, and elevators and escalators are back in operation more quickly.