Tuesday 31 August 2010
FedEx using electric tricycles
An electric, non-carbon tricycle for adults is way more exciting than it sounds, especially when an international company like FedEx Corp. uses the bikes to deliver packages across the city of Paris.FedEx now has four tricycles making mail deliveries in Paris – 12 by the end of the summer – that run on a 250-watt electric motor supplemented with pedal power. The company partnered with Urban Cab, a transportation service with 22 pedal-powered “rickshaws” around the city.The tricycles require manual pedaling to start the motor. Although slightly bulky, there’s a tall, removable storage container that sits between the back two wheels. The vehicles can travel at a speed of around 20 kilometers per hour and are welcome traffic in Paris’ pedestrian-only areas and many bike lanes.
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Tricycles! That made me laugh...
ReplyDeleteWhat are others doing, how does this compare to UPS and DHL?
ReplyDeleteDHL is doing a lot of work in this area, since they are european environmental considerations are almost baked in.
ReplyDeleteNot sure what UPS are doing, but I expect they will be investing in expanding their hybrid fleet.
One area that these companies have not addressed is the amount of packaging thats need. Surely they could reduce the need for so many bits of paper to send a package???
Unfortunately not, airbills etc are needed for legal reasons, so its not really an option to reduce them. They are already printed on recycled paper.
ReplyDeleteIf they were truly interested in the environment, they would find a way.
ReplyDeleteAs Henry Ford said, if Id asked my customers what they wanted, they would have said a faster horse.