Hermes Relies on Swobbee as Charging Infrastructure Solution in Berlin

The parcel service provider Hermes relies on Swobbee in Berlin to ensure a seamless energy supply for its e-cargo bike fleet. One of Swobbee’s innovative battery swapping stations has now been put into operation at the Hermes depot in Berlin-Tempelhof. There, Swobbee ensures that smooth operation of the new ONO heavy-duty bikes is possible without range limitations and charging interruptions.

(Berlin) Hermes and Swobbee have a long-standing successful collaboration. The parcel logistics company had already participated in the first major field trial of the Berlin startup in 2018, together with other project partners, to test the advantages of this innovative, sustainable, and efficient energy infrastructure for transport applications in urban areas for the first time.

The parcel logistics provider Hermes is currently significantly expanding its e-cargo bike fleet in Berlin to deliver shipments in the Berlin city center emissions-free. The Hermes depot in Berlin-Tempelhof serves as a micro-depot, which is considered a forward-looking alternative to conventional delivery systems in city logistics. This city-compatible approach reduces traffic pressure while simultaneously increasing efficiency on the last mile.

Ideal Charging Solution for the Last Mile

Delivery by cargo bike is particularly suitable for densely populated delivery districts with high shipment volumes, as is the case in the neighborhoods of Mitte, Kreuzberg, and Schöneberg. Hermes uses electric heavy-duty bikes from the Berlin manufacturer ONO there. The GreenPack batteries of the ONO transporters can be swapped at the Swobbee station with just a few simple steps and are thus always ready for use. The new daily operations have already started successfully, as Martin Mandos, Last Mile Manager at Hermes in the Berlin area, explains: “The charging and swapping stations from Swobbee are not only a great support for us but are also a prerequisite for the use of our electrically operated cargo bikes. At our depot in Berlin-Tempelhof, we have the ‘luxury’ of having the station placed directly on our premises. This is particularly convenient! The service from Swobbee is impeccable: everything is monitored remotely, defective batteries are replaced, and our delivery personnel can always rely on ‘fresh’ batteries while on the go.”

Tobias Breyer, COO of Swobbee, also sees great potential in the integration of intelligent charging infrastructure and transport solutions for city logistics: “We are very pleased that Hermes, as one of Germany’s leading parcel service providers, confirms the effectiveness and efficiency of our battery swapping system with the use of another Swobbee. This is just the beginning. In the coming years, bicycle-based delivery traffic in urban centers will receive a real energy boost.”

Photo: © Hermes