Challenges and perspectives for the use of electric vehicles for last mile logistics of grocery e-commerce – Findings from case studies in Germany

Kurzfassung

More and more cities struggle to provide acceptable air quality and noise levels for their inhabitants. At the same time, urbanization is continuing, as is the need for supply with groceries in cities. Another ongoing trend is the growth of online shopping of groceries. Increase of online shopping in other areas, e.g. clothing, has resulted in augmented transport demand due to deliveries and returns. Therefore, an approach is needed to uncouple grocery supply related transport demand from emissions augmentation. This is only possible though, if transportation efficiency is further improved and if lower emission technologies (noise and fumes) are applied, e.g. electric vehicles. With limited data available on urban commercial transport as well as on e-mobility, it is difficult for both logistics providers and politics to prepare for these developments and understand their implications. Focusing on the German market and using the test case of a renowned logistics service provider who trialed e-vehicles for commercial transport, this paper discusses potential shifts in grocery shopping habits, maps out perspectives, prerequisites and challenges for a shift to electric vehicles for their distribution and derives recommendations for industry and politics based on the findings.