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May 22, 2020 at 1:00 PMGLS takes another step forward in sustainable delivery: In Hamburg, the parcel service provider has taken delivery of eight brand new e-Sprinters from Mercedes-Benz. Together with four eBikes, they enable emission-free delivery in the city center.
(Neuenstein) The parcel service provider General Logistics Systems (GLS) is taking a step further in sustainability in Hamburg. Around the Alster, in St. Georg, and in the HafenCity, eight e-Sprinters are now on the road, which the automobile manufacturer Mercedes-Benz handed over to GLS on May 13. They start their tours directly from the GLS depot in Hamburg-Billbrook. This allows for the saving of around 25 tons of CO2 per year.
GLS has installed several fast charging stations on the depot grounds, allowing the vehicles to be charged within two hours. The range of the batteries is sufficient for the daily delivery routes.
“Mercedes-Benz, just like us, is involved in the funding project ZUKUNFT.DE of the BMVI,” says Martin Seidenberg, Chairman of the Management Board of GLS Germany. “We are pleased to thoroughly test the Mercedes-Benz electric vehicles of the 3.5-ton class in practical use within this framework.”
“From the use of the vehicles under realistic everyday conditions in parcel delivery, we gain valuable insights in collaboration with logistics companies on how we can further optimize the eSprinter,” says Benjamin Kaehler, Head of eDrive@Vans at Mercedes-Benz Vans.
Quieter and Emission-Free with Cargo Bikes
Since March, four cargo bikes have been replacing two conventional diesel vans in the city center. The eBikes also have the advantage of being able to navigate traffic jams better and find parking spaces more easily, which benefits the overall traffic flow. Residents and recipients have responded positively to the bike deliveries.
The cargo bikes of the type “MovR” from the manufacturer Rytle also allow for an uncomplicated exchange of the parcel containers. This model has already proven itself in use for GLS in Oldenburg. Depending on the quantity and size of the packages, one to two containers are loaded per bike in the morning. Once the first container is empty, the driver simply exchanges it and continues delivering.
The starting and transfer point for the eBikes is located near the delivery area in the Hamm district, on a site of the GLS subsidiary DER KURIER. Here, the vehicles are also parked overnight and the batteries are charged. The capacity is sufficient for a workday.
The eBikes allow for an annual CO2-saving of around eight tons. Together with the savings from the e-Sprinters, the total reduction in CO2 emissions amounts to around 33 tons per year.
Clear Goals for Environmental Protection
With GLS Klima Protect, GLS Germany has set clear goals for environmental protection: conserving resources and avoiding or offsetting emissions. This also includes CO2-neutral parcel shipping. Increasingly, more alternatively powered vehicles are contributing to parcel delivery and pickup nationwide.
“The emission-free delivery of the Hamburg city center is another milestone of our GLS KlimaProtect program,” says Martin Seidenberg.
Photo: GLS
