Integrating Cargo Bikes and Drones into Last-Mile Deliveries: Insights from Pilot Deliveries in Five Greek Cities

Konstantinos Athanasopoulos, Ioannis Chatziioannou (), Argyro-Maria Boutsi, Georgios Tsingenopoulos, Sofia Soile, Regina Chliverou, Zoe Petrakou, Efstathios Papanikolaou, Christos Karolemeas, Efthymia Kourmpa, Kalliopi Papadaki, Eleftheria Tzika, Charalabos Ioannidis, Chryssy Potsiou and Thanos Vlastos
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Konstantinos Athanasopoulos: School of Rural, Surveying and Geoinformatics Engineering, National Technical University of Athens, 10682 Athens, Greece
Ioannis Chatziioannou: School of Rural, Surveying and Geoinformatics Engineering, National Technical University of Athens, 10682 Athens, Greece
Argyro-Maria Boutsi: School of Rural, Surveying and Geoinformatics Engineering, National Technical University of Athens, 10682 Athens, Greece
Georgios Tsingenopoulos: School of Rural, Surveying and Geoinformatics Engineering, National Technical University of Athens, 10682 Athens, Greece
Sofia Soile: School of Rural, Surveying and Geoinformatics Engineering, National Technical University of Athens, 10682 Athens, Greece
Regina Chliverou: School of Rural, Surveying and Geoinformatics Engineering, National Technical University of Athens, 10682 Athens, Greece
Zoe Petrakou: Aethon Engineering, 25 Em. Benaki Str., 10678 Athens, Greece
Efstathios Papanikolaou: Taxydema, 81 Xenodochoipallilon Str., 13677 Athens, Greece
Christos Karolemeas: School of Rural, Surveying and Geoinformatics Engineering, National Technical University of Athens, 10682 Athens, Greece
Efthymia Kourmpa: School of Rural, Surveying and Geoinformatics Engineering, National Technical University of Athens, 10682 Athens, Greece
Kalliopi Papadaki: School of Rural, Surveying and Geoinformatics Engineering, National Technical University of Athens, 10682 Athens, Greece
Eleftheria Tzika: School of Rural, Surveying and Geoinformatics Engineering, National Technical University of Athens, 10682 Athens, Greece
Charalabos Ioannidis: School of Rural, Surveying and Geoinformatics Engineering, National Technical University of Athens, 10682 Athens, Greece
Chryssy Potsiou: School of Rural, Surveying and Geoinformatics Engineering, National Technical University of Athens, 10682 Athens, Greece
Thanos Vlastos: School of Rural, Surveying and Geoinformatics Engineering, National Technical University of Athens, 10682 Athens, Greece

Sustainability, 2024, vol. 16, issue 3, 1-25

Abstract: Currently, there is a growing consensus that the use of more sustainable urban freight transportation has the potential to offer major energy and efficiency benefits which can be achieved through the appropriate combination of cargo bikes and the integration of drones into the urban logistics system. This study presents the results of a stepwise regression analysis that examines the role, benefits, and impact of electric vehicles such as e-bikes, cargo bikes, and drones for intermodal freight transportation in five Greek cities to support the green logistics paradigm. The results show that between routes of almost equal length, the most bicycle-friendly routes, such as routes along pedestrian areas or residential streets, should be avoided, as they reduce delivery speed and increase delivery costs in terms of energy and time expenditure. In addition, priority roads, which usually have higher traffic speeds and more trucks, are preferred by cyclists due to the quality of the road surface, even though the feeling of safety is lower on such roads. Finally, regarding drones, energy consumption is relatively low in the 0–5 mph and 6–10 mph wind speed ranges, indicating efficient energy use. In the 11–15 mph and 16–20 mph wind speed ranges, energy efficiency is significantly lower than the battery capacity, indicating that the cargo drone exhibits excessive energy consumption under these conditions.

Keywords: green logistics; last mile deliveries; cargo bikes; drones (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2024
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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