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Logistics company plans to scale zero-emission delivery solutions across US
In partnership with Tortoise and Urb-E, AxleHire has been running automated delivery pilots in Los Angeles and New York City, and reports these will be scaled nationally in 2021.
Last-mile logistics company AxleHire has announced plans to scale two new zero-emission pilot programmes to help realise the benefits of sustainable last-mile delivery.
Powered by proprietary technology, AxleHire utilises algorithms to dynamically optimise delivery routes with the aim of providing more packages delivered in fewer vehicles
New York City
In partnership with Tortoise and Urb-E, the company has been ‘quietly’ running pilots in Los Angeles (Tortoise) and New York City (Urb-E), and reports these will be scaled nationally in 2021 and 2022 in other cities where the companies currently have operations.
In New York, AxleHire and Urb-E launched a micro-container delivery system to deliver goods from Brooklyn to Manhattan. The vehicles can haul more than 800lbs and still travel in bike lanes. This model case study proved that the delivery network saved on drive time and avoided parking tickets, resulting in a six times reduction in traffic and a model that is three times cheaper than electric vehicle (EV) delivery vans.
“Our micro container delivery project in New York has proven that it’s more than possible to do green delivery more efficiently and at less cost than traditional gas-powered delivery vans”
“Partnering with AxleHire has allowed our two companies to do what no other cleantech delivery companies have been able to do successfully in the US, making e-cargo delivery easily adaptable and scalable,” said Charles Jolley, CEO of Urb-E.
“Our micro container delivery project in New York has proven that it’s more than possible to do green delivery more efficiently and at less cost than traditional gas-powered delivery vans.”
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Tortoise’s 100 per cent electric, 4mph remote-piloted delivery cart
For the last year, AxleHire has been piloting Tortoise’s 100 per cent electric, 4mph remote-piloted carts loaded with AxleHire customer’s packages (up to 120 pounds of goods).
Using a centrally placed micro hub, AxleHire loads customers’ deliveries into the Tortoise delivery cart, which goes back and forth to make approximately 15 deliveries a day within a three-mile radius to recipients in Los Angeles.
“Creating a sustainable supply chain is something that we take seriously here at AxleHire, especially as a California-based company where we see how things like global warming have an impact on our daily lives,” said Daniel Sokolovsky founder of AxleHire.
“I’m super excited we’re expanding nationally with Tortoise and Urb-E and reaching more metro neighbourhoods where using sustainable delivery technology has a big impact.”
In February 2021, AxleHire participated in the nation’s first zero-emission delivery zone in Santa Monica and, in the spring, a zero-emission neighbourhood delivery hub in Seattle.
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How do AxleHire's algorithms optimize delivery routes for efficiency?What benefits do zero-emission delivery vehicles provide in urban areas?How does Urb-E's micro-container system reduce traffic and costs?What challenges exist in scaling automated delivery pilots nationally?How do remote-piloted carts improve last-mile delivery sustainability?AxleHireCAVselectric vehicleslogisticsLos AngelesmobilityNew York CityretailersTortoiseurban spaceUrb-EUSA
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