Electric Vehicles for Urban Logistics and Commercial Transport – User Needs and Obstacles

Abstract

Commercial transport and logistics constitutes 30% and more of transport related emissions in cities today already and it is expected, that these forms of traffic will increase in the future due to the urbanisation trend. In order to reduce local emissions, electromobility for urban logistics is presenting itself as an interesting alternative to conventional, combustion engine powered vehicles. Based on empirical research in form of an online survey, using the example of Berlin, Germany, this research identifies potential user groups for electromobility for urban logistics and their transport demand characteristics. It analyses their needs and requirements regarding electric vehicles for urban logistics and compares them to needs and concerns as perceived by potential users. Findings are complemented and validated with data extracted from other transport surveys, namely the KiD Kraftfahrzeugverkehr in Deutschland 2010, which contains 115,000 trips of about 70,000 vehicles. The text closes with an overview on user groups within the context of urban deliveries for whom a shift to electromobility is more within reach as well as an overview on the most frequently encountered obstacles when analyzing shifting potential for urban logistics.