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Electric cargo bikes are the future

  • by JW

Home deliveries are soaring and cargo bikes cut congestion and pollution.”

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Sidmouth had been hoping for a combined passenger/delivery service via e-trikes or bikes:

Should Sidmouth have its own e-trike service? Press reports – Vision Group for Sidmouth

However, current legislation will not allow local authorities outside London to issue anything that isn’t a four-wheel vehicle – which has scuppered plans for an e-trike service, at least for the moment:

Taxi licensing – East Devon

Something which does not impress those trying to push for such a service to be accepted more widely:

Pedicab politics | cyclinguk.org

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Meanwhile, Exmouth had been hoping for its own e-bike delivery service:

An e-delivery service launches in Exmouth – Vision Group for Sidmouth

However, despite a very successful trial run – it hasn’t been able to progress beyond that:

Transition Exmouth – Posts | Facebook

ExeCargo: pound power for pedal power! – a Food and Drink crowdfunding project in Exmouth by Angela Mynard

However, it’s still very much considered as a viable business, with everything set up:

Execargo Exmouth | Facebook

With any interest directed to contact transitionexmouth@gmail.com

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Nevertheless, the move to e-vehicles continues in earnest.

In Sidmouth we’ve just had the launch of East Devon’s first fully-electric taxi service:

East Devon’s first zero-emission taxi service – Vision Group for Sidmouth

And in Tokyo, it’s all electric:

Specially-Designed Toyota “Tokyo 2020 Version” e-Palette to Provide Automated Mobility to Athletes | Corporate | Global Newsroom | Toyota Motor Corporation Official Global Website

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As Daniel Carrington in yesterday’s Guardian reports:

Cargo bikes deliver faster and cleaner than vans, study finds

Home deliveries are soaring and cargo bikes cut congestion and pollution in cities, researchers say

Electric cargo bikes deliver about 60% faster than vans in city centres, according to a study. It found that bikes had a higher average speed and dropped off 10 parcels an hour, compared with six for vans.

The bikes also cut carbon emissions by 90% compared with diesel vans, and by a third compared with electric vans, the report said. Air pollution, which is still at illegal levels in many urban areas, was also significantly reduced.

Home deliveries have soared in recent years, spurred by online shopping and the coronavirus pandemic. Vans can travel along clear stretches of road at higher speeds than cargo bikes but are slowed by congestion and the search for parking. Cargo bikes bypass traffic jams, take shortcuts through streets closed to through traffic and ride to the customers door.

Carbon emissions from transport have barely fallen in the past decade and pose a significant challenge for the UK in meeting its targets to combat the climate crisis. The government recently announced a 30% rise in funding to make cycling and walking easier. The report’s authors said the government should consider cutting the VAT rate on cargo bike deliveries and allow more powerful e-bikes to be used.

Cargo bikes deliver faster and cleaner than vans, study finds | Road transport | The Guardian

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photo:  Should Sidmouth have its own e-trike service? – Vision Group for Sidmouth

Professional electric pedicab and cargo bike, by Yokler !

Triporteur professionnel à assistance électrique pour le transport de passagers, Yokler X – YouTube