Last Mile Logistics at the IAA 2024 Hanover: micromobiles and cargo bikes

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According to the organizing association of the automotive industry, the Commercial Vehicle IAA Transportation in Hanover is a forum for "commercial vehicle and bus manufacturers, body and trailer manufacturers, companies from the micromobility sector, cargo bike and small vehicle providers, as well as suppliers and tech companies, service providers and start-ups". In the first part, we presented some manufacturers of long-distance and heavy-duty trucks that are coming to Hanover with both conventional and alternatively powered vehicles. For the second part, we have picked out some of the micromobility specialists.

The traffic turnaround already means that trucks for distribution traffic can only reach certain environmental zones if they are battery-powered. The 3.5 and 7.5-ton trucks defined by the driving license classes, such as the Fuso eCanter, which has been successfully marketed by Daimler since 2017, have proven their worth. As more and more cities are imposing entry restrictions, this area is experiencing a constant upswing. This means that it is clearly not only worthwhile electrifying classic trucks, there are even modern, heavier new developments such as the 16/18-ton Volta Zero.

Diverse biotope

Of course, these larger vehicles are not used from door to door, they merely deliver to hubs from which households or companies are then supplied. This area, which haulage companies often refer to as the "last mile", is a diverse biotope for very small, lightweight and locally emission-free delivery solutions. The courier express parcel sector ("CEP") is at the forefront. Deutsche Post and DHL currently have around 30,000 electric vehicles in use. Hermes Germany's fleet comprises over 1100 electric vehicles, including 990 electric vans and 125 cargo bikes. The possibilities are becoming ever more numerous thanks to changes in customer behavior – Keyword: e-commerce – and at the same time, increasingly strict restrictions to protect local residents. Today, cargo bikes, such as those used by Swiss Post in large numbers, are already established and now extend to robots and drones that still seem futuristic today.

The IAA has long incorporated this area into its concept and has also managed to attract some of the manufacturers to Hanover. The public can not only see the exhibits on the stands, most of them can also be driven on a course. In order to give trade fair visitors the opportunity to try out realistic situations with the vehicles, six areas simulate typical or possible conditions that may occur in road traffic. In addition to a handling section with chicanes, the VDA has also had rough cobblestones, speed bumps, kerbs, loose gravel and sand, a lateral ascent and descent over kerbs as well as various inclines and declines and an acceleration section built into the course. To make the test track independent of the weather, it was moved into one of the halls.

Antric One cargo bike: Robust through the city

Antric presents a particularly robust delivery bike variant. The load-relevant parts in the Antric One come from the automotive sector to make it more stable than a vehicle with parts from the bicycle industry. The four-wheeled version is designed to offer more tipping safety and suspension comfort than the more common three-wheelers. The loading volume is 2.2 m³ and the payload is 291 kg. The internal dimensions of the body are designed so that a Euro pallet or two standard mesh trolleys can be loaded.

The Antric ONE has 5-stage electric pedal assistance up to 25 km/h and a purely electric maneuvering aid forwards and backwards up to 6 km/h. Two slots are provided for the batteries, each with 1.44 kWh for a range of up to 50 km.

Dynamic Drives: Chainless with serial hybrid drive

The manufacturer from Giessen builds pedelecs and multi-track cargo bikes with a serial hybrid drive based on scalable components, also in consultation with the vehicle manufacturer. The drive uses muscle power by providing part of the drive power via a pedal-driven generator. The power can thus be transmitted to the wheel motors by cable instead of chain or belt. Dynamic Drives will be represented at the trade fair with the Intelectra e-cargo bike with a payload of 450 kg and a maximum range of 93 km for the urban last mile, passenger transportation, for craftsmen, B2B or private applications, which is about to go into series production.

Riese und Müller: lightweight single-track vehicles

Founded in the 1990s, the bicycle manufacturer with around 800 employees is bringing five lightweight single-track vehicles with electric support to the Hannover Messe. They are all strong wherever multi-track vehicles are too wide. The Multitinker also makes it possible to transport small people. The Load4 60 in the picture is a lightweight single-track cargo bike with a Bosch motor. Like most other R&M models, it is available with different gears (chain, hub), but also as a single-speed model.

CityQ: lightweight four-wheel transporter

CityQ advertises its cargo four-wheeler with the best of both worlds: car and bicycle. The claim: "downsizing a car into a bicycle and offering users a unique riding experience". The new CityQ Cargo offers 220 Nm from two motors, a net weight of 100 kg and an ergonomic seat with safety belt. CityQ claims a battery range of up to 150 km, with two replaceable batteries under the driver's seat.

The CityQ Cargo is available in two versions, the Cargo1200 with a 1200-liter cargo box or the Cargo850 with a capacity of 850 liters. Its power transmission works without chains or belts thanks to a fully electric drivetrain. The modular body with several storage compartments offers one to one and a half cubic meters of loading volume, expandable up to two. Optionally with complete weather protection, including windows, floor, doors and windshield wipers.

Laplandar: robust sheet metal trikes

The brand from Denmark builds e-trikes from laser-cut sheet steel parts with a payload of up to 250 kg. The Laplandar L-250 is ideal for facility and real estate management. A range of prefabricated cargo boxes for various other purposes can also be ordered. Laplandar states a range of 80 km.

Bako: E-mobile from Africa

Bako's B-Van, with roots in Tunisia and Europe, is an ultra-light van designed to offer a low-threshold entry into e-mobility: Bako advertises, without going into details, operating costs of one euro per 100 km. With a capacity of 1320 liters and a payload of 400 kg, the vehicle sets limits in terms of volume rather than weight.

The engine produces 7.5 kW, offers 110 Nm of torque and is designed to take the four-wheeled vehicle up to 70 km/h. You don't have to pedal, and you can't. Two variants of the LFP battery offer a range of either 100 or 300 km. Fast charging should take three or six hours. The roof of the little trolley, which is just over 2.8 meters long, 1240 mm wide and 1680 mm high, is used entirely to generate electricity using photovoltaics. However, its yield is probably not even sufficient for the optional air conditioning system.

(fpi)