Last-mile logistics has become a major challenge both for transport companies and for cities, which have to find the best compromise between efficiency, pollution reduction and the sharing of public space. The collaborative DECARBOMILE (DECARBOnize the last MILE logistics).
Led by a consortium of 31 partners from 10 European countries and funded to the tune of 7.9 million euros by the European Union's Horizon Europe research and innovation program (more specifically HORIZON 2.5 Climate, Energy and Mobility), this project will be rolled out in 4 pilot cities (Logroño-Spain, Nantes-France, Hamburg-Germany and Istanbul-Turkey).
Over a period of 4 years (from September 2022 to August 2026) and with a total budget of 9.5 million euros, these cities will apply the systems and solutions proposed by the program's participants, in order to define the most suitable and scalable solutions for a low-carbon last mile. 4 satellite cities (Tallinn-Estonia, Getafe-Spain, Ghent-Belgium and Sarajevo-Bosnia-Herzegovina) will be involved on a smaller scale to test and study the proposed solutions according to their needs.
Les 5 Piliers du DECARBOMILE
1️⃣ a collaborative partnership ;
2️⃣ a sustainable economy ;
3️⃣ urban optimization ;
4️⃣ digital collaboration ;
5️⃣ regulatory compliance.
DECARBOMILE intends to develop interoperable, multimodal vehicles for last-mile delivery in urban areas, in particular by optimizing logistics vehicles.
Le Rôle de FlexiModal
As a designer of solutions for cyclelogistics, FlexiModal has joined this initiative, supported by the ID4MOBILITYcompetitiveness cluster, in order to develop and test in real-life conditions its TricyLift cargo-bike as well as its micro-containerization solutions adapted around the European pallet format, currently under development.
In addition to its role as designer, FlexiModal supervises the equipment development work unit. In this sense, FlexiModal is fully involved in monitoring meetings and the progress of its project partners within the group.
This European project has enabled us to structure our R&D department with two engineers dedicated to the development of this innovative cargo bike, which aims to democratize cycling. The TricyLift will enter the test phase in 2024. Fully integrating the containerization principle found in other collaborative projects, the TricyLift is positioned as a forward-looking solution for urban logistics.
La Conteneurisation au Service de l'Optimisation Logistique
La conteneurisation, quant à elle, permet de libérer les transporteurs de la rupture de charge supplémentaire que représente le dernier kilomètre. En conteneurisant la marchandise en amont du transport, à destination d’une zone de chalandise définie, le micro-conteneur peut être déplacé d’un véhicule à un autre, sans que la marchandise ne soit éclatée à nouveau. Un gain de temps qui résulte en une meilleure efficacité pour la livraison urbaine à vélo.
The TricyLift is a three-wheeled cargo-bike with a comfortable, truck-like seat and a so-called pendulum seat (steering is provided by the body rather than the arms). Equipped with optional rain protection, it offers driving pleasure combined with physical comfort. To enable containerization, the TricyLift can be separated into two distinct elements: the seat on one side and the frame on the other. The frame incorporates FlexiModal's patented Lift&Go technology, which enables a load of up to 200 kg to be lifted from the ground in 10 seconds. The micro-container (on wheels for easier handling in the warehouse and on the last meter) is then picked up by the cargo-bike in a simple and intuitive way for delivery to the city center. The TricyLift solution is self-mounted and, when stationary, doesn't need a stand, making it even more efficient for the delivery driver.
To enable users to take full advantage of its optimization capabilities, infrastructures and practices will have to evolve to enable efficient, low-carbon logistics. This must take into account the reasonable limits of the bicycle, ensuring that it can use cycle lanes and maintain the advantage of cyclelogistics. This is what the DECARBOMILE project is aiming for by 2026!
Decarbomile : Five Keys to Decarbonize the Last Mile Logistics