Researchers at Bremerhaven University of Applied Sciences are working on software for climate-friendly goods delivery

Green Delivery Analytics project to deliver customised solutions for the 80 largest German cities

Online retail is booming - and with it the number of delivery vehicles bringing goods directly to the door is also increasing. In the Green Delivery Analytics (GDA) project, researchers from the Smart Mobility Institute (SMI) at Bremerhaven University of Applied Sciences (project coordinator) are working with project partner Rytle X Group SE to develop a data-based analysis tool that can be used to make this so-called ‘last-mile delivery’ in Germany's eighty largest cities both climate-friendly and economical. The project is being funded by the Federal Ministry for Digital and Transport Affairs (BMDV) with a total of 1,950,000 euros as part of the mFUND innovation initiative.

Climate-neutral, electromobile delivery systems

The fact that more and more people are ordering goods online is not only a challenge for regional companies, but also for transport planning in cities. Roads are overloaded and greenhouse gas emissions are rising. This is why science, industry and local authorities are working on developing sustainable solutions for city logistics. One area of this is the ‘last mile’, for example the delivery of parcels directly to the front door. Logistics vehicles with electric drives are a key element for CO2-neutral delivery. However, these are not yet as economical and universally applicable as conventional vehicles. ‘Climate-neutral, electric delivery systems differ from conventional systems in terms of their technical performance, infrastructure requirements and costs. A complete replacement in terms of climate-neutral last-mile logistics is both technically and economically possible, but requires a customised design for the combination of delivery systems and associated infrastructure in relation to the specific conditions in the respective delivery areas,’ says project manager Prof. Dr Benjamin Wagner vom Berg from the Smart Mobility Institute.

The aim of the new Green Delivery Analytics project is to provide companies and local authorities with concrete solutions for sustainable and climate-friendly last-mile logistics. Over the next three years, the Smart Mobility Institute and Rytle X want to develop software that can be used to develop customised combinations of different delivery systems, including the appropriate infrastructure, for the eighty largest cities in Germany based on data. The basis is a modular system consisting of micro-hubs, e-transporters and cargo bikes, among other things. Spatial structure data, delivery data and traffic flow data, for example, are also included in the analysis. ‘The application should be able to evaluate any delivery area and enable the automated design of a holistic green delivery solution, taking into account technical and economic criteria for an entire city or individual neighbourhoods. This would not only enable logistics experts to work, but would also provide municipal planners with a sound basis for infrastructure planning, zoning or even specifications in terms of the desired climate neutrality. On completion of the project, a data-based software application that has been partially evaluated in the operational environment should be available,’ says Dr Arne Kruse, CEO of Rytle X Group SE. Important data on individual delivery areas is provided by associated partners such as GLS, Citipost Bremen and Citipost Oldenburg.

Direct contribution to achieving Germany's climate protection targets

If the project goal is achieved, this would make a direct contribution to achieving Germany's climate protection targets, which aim to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 65 per cent by 2030 and achieve climate neutrality by 2045. ‘This means that the GDA project not only takes into account the interests of the BMDV, but also the interests of the entire federal government. On this basis, cities and municipalities can adopt specific measures for urban freight transport in order to realise the goals. In terms of urban planning, the establishment of green last-mile logistics also requires various infrastructure measures such as the further expansion of cycle paths and the designation of areas for logistics hubs in cities,’ explains Prof Wagner vom Berg.

About the BMDV's mFUND:
As part of the mFUND innovation initiative, the BMDV has been funding data-based research and development projects for the digital and networked mobility of the future since 2016. The project funding is complemented by active professional networking between stakeholders from politics, business, administration and research and by the provision of open data on the Mobilithek. Further information can be found at www.mFUND.de.

Translated with DeepL.