New eTrailer set to redefine last mile deliveries
When you click ‘confirm’ on your online order you’re putting in motion a whole chain of events. From a warehouse shelf to an airplane, the back of a truck and to your front door – the logistics chain is a complex, multifaceted process with a lot of moving parts. But it’s the last step, the getting the parcel from truck to doorstep, that is often the most complicated. Things are particularly complex when the delivery runs through a city, called the ‘last mile delivery’. In fact, the last mile is responsible for 30 % of all urban traffic and accounts for 80 % of traffic jams during rush hour. Those delivery trucks also produce 25 % of all urban transport-related carbon emissions and up to 50 % of other transport-related pollutants. “The increasing urbanisation of cities, along with the rapid growth of e-commerce, makes the traditional last mile model expensive and inefficient,” says Natalia Tomiyama, co-founder of NÜWIEL, a German start-up. “As a result, there is an urgent need to shift to more agile and sustainable logistics systems.” To achieve this, NÜWIEL developed an eTrailer, the world’s first all-electric smart delivery trailer. “The eTrailer can be used with any (e)bike and is able to move up to 300 kg of heavy and bulky goods in a very intuitive yet fully automatic and safe way,” explains Tomiyama. Thanks to the support of the EU-funded FUTrailer project, the eTrailer is facilitating the transformation of last mile logistics.
Further developing the eTrailer’s technology
According to Tomiyama, the EU funding allowed NÜWIEL to further develop its sensor technology and file for IP protection. “Once connected to a bicycle, our technology allows the eTrailer to automatically adjust its speed to that of the bike, meaning riders can carry up to 200 % more payload without compromising their comfort,” she adds. The eTrailer also features an innovative redundant brake system and custom-designed suspension, both of which provide enhanced safety. “These features not only ensure a safe and smooth ride, but also make the eTrailer more durable and extend its lifespan,” remarks Tomiyama.
Winning a public tender with Belgian Post
The project helped NÜWIEL to transform its supply chain – with 80 % of its materials now being sourced from Europe. The company was also able to secure funding from strategic investors and establish an inclusive work culture, recruiting diverse talent to grow the team. But the most important outcome of the project has been the winning of a public tender to supply Belgian Post (bpost with electric trailers). According to bpost, this has already helped reduce CO2 emissions by an astonishing 97 % and noise pollution by 47 %.
Redefining last mile deliveries
NÜWIEL set out to redefine urban logistics – which is exactly what it did. Their eTrailer not only helps e-commerce shift to more sustainable deliveries, it also enables cycling logistics to achieve its full climate mitigation potential. “We are proud of all the achievements during the course of this project that led to our expansion in Europe,” concludes Tomiyama. The NÜWIEL eTrailer was recently named ‘Best Bike Trailer of 2022’ by IAA Transportation.
Keywords
FUTrailer, eTrailer, last mile deliveries, e-bike, carbon, logistics, e-commerce, supply chain
