Online commerce has caused an increase in the circulation of delivery vehicles. The urban distribution of goods (DUM) is not only responsible for 20% of congestion and polluting emissions, but also has increased accident rates, according to data from the General Directorate of Traffic (DGT) for 2021. Reduce the trips associated with this activity is not an easy challenge; however, the Barcelona City Council believes that there is a simple and easily applied measure that could help. It would be about expanding the network of collection points so that all citizens have one within 200 meters.
The consistory and the main business and union associations in the sector have agreed on this and other measures to improve and make the urban distribution of goods more efficient and sustainable. The objective is that, in the year 2030, the emissions of delivery vehicles are 50% lower and 40% of online purchases are not delivered to homes, but are instead collected at collection points.
In addition to expanding the network of collection points in Barcelona, ??the municipal strategy for the urban distribution of goods in Barcelona establishes ten fundamental actions:
Undoubtedly, one of the solutions to reduce polluting emissions from delivery vehicles is to gradually replace internal combustion vehicles with electric ones. In the market, there is an increasing supply of vans and trucks of this type. These can be an alternative for transport professionals specializing in “last mile delivery”. In other words, short-mileage daily journeys that can be tackled without worrying about autonomy.
Taking into account that almost 80% of commercial vehicle drivers travel less than 200 km daily, electric compact vans can be good allies, even more so when access restrictions to city centers are becoming more severe.
