Want to improve your environmental impact? Opt for eco-friendly means of transportation to deliver your products directly to your customers. Here are the advantages and disadvantages of eco-responsible transportation solutions implemented mainly in urban areas for e-commerce companies:
Delivery by bike
Benefits:
- Environmentally friendly: Bicycle deliveries do not emit exhaust fumes, which significantly reduces the impact on the environment.
- Economical: They often cost less than other modes of transportation, such as cars or motorcycles.
- Fast: Bicycle delivery drivers can often get around town faster than motorized vehicles because they can avoid traffic jams and squeeze through tight spaces.
- Health benefits: Delivering by bike allows employees to exercise, which improves their physical and mental health.
Disadvantages:
- Limited capacity: Bicycles have a limited load capacity, which can reduce the amount of cargo a delivery person can carry.
- Distance: They are generally best suited for local or intra-urban deliveries. They may have difficulty traveling long distances.
- Weather: Bicycle delivery drivers are often exposed to inclement weather, which can make delivery difficult or dangerous.
- Safety: As a result, delivery drivers may be exposed to traffic hazards, such as accidents or even theft.
Delivery by cargo bike
Cargo bikes are specially designed to transport goods or passengers. They have a greater load capacity than conventional bicycles. Here are the advantages and disadvantages of this type of transportation:
Advantages:
- Environmentally friendly: Cargo bikes produce no emissions, making them a more environmentally friendly option than motorized vehicles.
- Economical: Bicycle carts generally have lower operating costs than motorized vehicles because they do not require fuel and maintenance is inexpensive.
- Maneuverability: Cargo bikes are often more maneuverable than motorized vehicles, making it easier to get around congested urban areas.
- Carrying capacity: They also have a higher carrying capacity than conventional bicycles, making them a practical option for transporting goods.
Disadvantages:
- Load Limit: Although cargo bikes have a larger load capacity than conventional bicycles, they still have a load limit that may restrict their use for very large shipments.
- Distance limitation: Cargo bikes have a limited range compared to motorized vehicles, which may limit their use for long distances.
- Comfort: They may not provide the same level of comfort for drivers and passengers as motorized vehicles.
- Initial cost: Cargo bikes can be more expensive to purchase than conventional bikes, although this depends on the model and load capacity.
Electric vehicle delivery
Electric vehicles are a clean and environmentally responsible alternative to combustion engine vehicles. They produce no polluting emissions and are therefore ideal for parcel deliveries in urban areas. Here are the advantages and disadvantages for this type of transportation:
Advantages:
- Environmentally friendly: Electric vehicles do not produce polluting emissions, making them a more environmentally friendly option than gasoline or diesel vehicles.
- Economical: Electric vehicles generally have lower operating costs than gasoline or diesel vehicles because electricity is cheaper than gasoline or diesel.
Disadvantages:
- High costs: Electric vehicles are often more expensive to purchase than gasoline or diesel vehicles, although costs have decreased significantly in recent years.
- Charging times: Charging times for electric vehicles can be longer than refueling times for gasoline or diesel vehicles.
- Limited range: Electric vehicles have a limited range compared to gasoline or diesel vehicles, which may limit their use for long distance or large scale deliveries.
- Charging infrastructure: There may be challenges related to the availability of charging stations for electric vehicles, particularly in rural or less developed areas.
Last mile delivery, optimizing the last leg of delivery
Did you know that the last mile delivery, i.e. the transportation of an order from the distribution center to the customer, is considered one of the most expensive steps? This is due to the added complexity of delivering to every home or business, as well as the increasing demand for this service.
Whether you manage the logistics of transporting your products or use the services of a third party, it makes sense to look for ways to optimize the transportation of your goods.
Why not consider a solution integrated to your online store that allows you to compare the prices of different modes of transportation, while offering ecological and fast options, such as local delivery by bicycle or electric vehicle?
Quebec companies offering eco-friendly transportation solutions
OBIBOX, a partner with dvore, is a Quebec company that owns a fleet of electric vehicles. It owns more than 20 Ford E-Transit trucks that allow them to deliver same day. Two of Obibox's main goals are to become carbon neutral by 2030 and to increase the number of packages delivered from 70,000 per week to 400,000 per day.
COURANT+ is another dvore partner. It is a perfect example of a company that has adopted eco-responsible means of transportation. This Quebec-based company uses 100% electric trucks to deliver loads of up to 5,000 kg, as well as cargo bikes capable of carrying up to 150 kg in the middle of traffic jams.
