Last mile delivery electric cargo bikes at Fleet Live 2019

By Andrew Baxter

4 September 2019

Delegates to this year’s Fleet Live will be able to experience award winning electric cargo bikes to prompt discussion on how they could help fleets tackle last mile deliveries in city centre locations.

Electric delivery bikes, autonomous-driving small vans, low-speed robots and high-flying drones are just some of the methods being trialled by businesses as the delivery and logistics sector seeks ways of managing last mile deliveries.

Tomorrow's Fleet

The Douze G4e will be on display as part of the Tomorrow's Fleet zone, an area at Fleet Live dedicated to the latest innovations in the fleet and mobility industry, including autonomous and electric vehicles.

The G4e features a 270 litres secure load space and is powered by a lithium-ion graphene battery with a total output of 1270 watts. The bike can reach a top speed of 15.5mph.

Fleet Live is the UK’s leading event for the fleet management community and gives decision-makers the chance to face future challenges and opportunities together with two days of learning, sharing and networking at the NEC in Birmingham on October 8-9.

Representatives from London Green Cycles, one of two UK approved stockists for the G4e, will be on hand to show off the bikes on the Tomorrow’s Fleet stand in Hall 20.

TfL competition

The French-made G4e recently won Transport for London’s (TfL) inaugural competition to find the best cargo bikes for sustainable business deliveries and was revealed as the Best Cargo Bike - Business Category.

The competition was put together to raise the profile of cargo bikes, highlighting their benefits as a sustainable option for deliveries as companies look at options to reduce emissions and continue operating in cities with ultra low emission zones.

TfL worked in partnership with manufacturers, distributors and stockists to host the competition, with awards handed out in two categories. Sixteen cargo bikes were put forward for judging by 10 manufacturers.

Eight judges - including London's Walking and Cycling Commissioner Will Norman and representatives from Mothercare, Sustrans, community cycling groups and family cycling bloggers - assessed each bike.

Affordability, comfort, security, style, capacity and manoeuvrability were among the areas considered.

The TfL competition’s judges were particularly impressed with the G4e's manoeuvrability and comfort and the bike also scored highly across the other judging criteria. TfL said alternative forms of freight, such as cycle freight, can be cleaner, greener and more efficient.

A spokesperson for TfL said: “There are many benefits for businesses, including staff health and motivation.

“Employees who are physically active take 27 per cent fewer sick days, for example. This is why TfL is working with industry and business to enable them to make the switch where possible.”

Fleet strategies

The London Green Cycles display will be one of several stands at Fleet Live’s Tomorrow’s Fleet Zone this year, alongside Westfield with its autonomous pod, Centrica with its electric vehicle infrastructure team and Allstar Business Solutions with a stand all about its One fuel card that can now be used for EV charging.

Stephen Briers, Fleet News editor-in-chief, said the Tomorrow's Fleet Zone creates a dedicated area for Fleet Live delegates to network and discuss their own future fleet strategies with access to some of the most forward thinking companies in the UK.

He said: “Having companies like Westfield, Allstar, London Green Cycles and Centrica as part of the show this year will put delegates up close with the latest innovations that will be reshaping the automotive market in the UK in the years to come.”