The DLR cargo bike and light vehicle project, whose results were presented in Berlin on Thursday as announced, has yielded an extremely rich collection of assessments and experiences regarding the use of cargo bikes and electric light vehicles in city logistics.

The result is not particularly surprising: A study by the German Aerospace Center (DLR) concludes that the use of cargo bikes is worthwhile - " if they are optimally selected and used " .

A Nuremberg-based "CNA," which sees itself as a think tank for mobility, transport, and logistics, is currently exploring bookable loading zones due to a lack of stopping options for delivery vehicles and couriers in metropolitan areas. A project called "SmaLa" tested this smart online concept in Hamburg.

In mid-2020, Swiss Post acquired notime AG, having previously held the majority stake. However, the same-day delivery service remained a niche product. It is now scheduled to be discontinued at the end of September 2025.

 M. Löckener

Effective August 1, 2024, Michael Löckener has been appointed Managing Director of Operations at trans-o-flex Verwaltungs GmbH. The company manages the various trans-o-flex subsidiaries in Germany and Austria, which specialize in the pharmaceutical and healthcare sectors.

From a bird's-eye view, "My Falkenried" is certainly the more spacious location: Galaxus Germany grew by 57 percent to €286 million in net sales in 2023, even though the overall market shrank. The German subsidiary of the online retailer Digitec Galaxus is relocating to Hamburg's city center.

Smart pedal vehicles (SPVs) are increasingly in demand. Switzerland already has leading manufacturers like the robust electric vehicles from Kyburz. Germany still has some catching up to do. The Munich-based startup CIP Mobility, which made it into the nominations at IFOY, is focusing more on "lightweight" vehicles.

A new 89 kWh battery gives the electric version of the Ford Transit a range of up to 402 km for inner-city and regional delivery traffic, increasing its range by 28%. Charging from 10 to 80 percent of full capacity can be reduced to 28 minutes. 

With a cooling capacity of up to 4.5 kW – and thus not much more than twice that of a normal domestic fan heater – Thermo King offers the new all-electric E-500e for delivery journeys in low and zero emission zones as well as diesel ban zones.

L. DeJoy

The US Postal Service (USPS) has begun equipping its sorting and delivery centers with charging stations for its planned fleet of more than 66,000 electric vehicles. This is part of the modernization of its aging delivery fleet under the ten-year "Delivering for America" ​​plan.

WPAlbeck

Wolfgang P. Albeck is stepping down as CEO of the express delivery service specializing in the healthcare, cosmetics, consumer electronics, and other sensitive goods sectors and will move to the supervisory board. Geodis CEO Thomas Kraus will take over on an interim basis.

In a new docking variant, the loading platform, a U-shaped chassis, can be hydraulically swivelled vertically. The driver raises the container to the desired height for loading or unloading; the U-frame remains locked and horizontal during lifting and lowering.

Around 3,000 three-wheeled electric delivery vehicles, similar to those used by the Swiss Post, are now in operation, even in Australia, manufactured by Kyburz. The business has long since expanded globally. The latest model is a DXC V2X, capable of handling gradients of up to 30 percent.

Ingenuity was one of the key features at this year's congress of the German Logistics Association in Berlin. Among the exhibits was a cargo bike from e-cargo bike and last-mile specialist Rytle, featuring a forklift upgrade. It was presented by former Hyster-Yale pro Timo Antony. 

The Swiss Green Economy Symposium, held midweek in Winterthur, was well-attended by familiar faces and key stakeholders from business, academia, and politics. The symposium covered a broad range of topics, including the circular economy, food issues, healthcare, and transportation, but was effectively orchestrated.