The first electric cargo bikes have rolled into the centre of Prague.

“In the bike depot in part of Florenc near to Těšnov, parcels will be transferred from lorries to special electric bikes and couriers will then deliver them directly to the customers. We planned everything in such a way as to ensure that we will already be able to handle deliveries this Christmas. The location offers easy access, is hidden beneath the main traffic artery, offers a large operating capacity and also a great connection directly to the city centre. Experience from abroad speaks for itself. Up to 32% of parcels can be transported using cargo bikes in city centres. And that is quite a respectable figure. Efficient logistics provide the foundations for a healthy city, and if this system works elsewhere in the world, it can also work in Prague. This is a step in the right direction towards reducing the number of cars in the city centre and ensuring cleaner air for us to breathe in Prague,” said Adam Scheinherr, Deputy Mayor responsible for transport, on the occasion of commencement of operations.

On the basis of a traffic study performed by the Prague Institute of Planning and Development, decision was made this June by Prague City Council to implement this project, and thanks to companies in the city and logistics companies getting together quickly and thanks also to their intensive cooperation, it was possible to implement the project over a period of only three months. 

“Deliveries to the city constitute a service which is closely linked to its development. Use of electric cargo bikes instead of vans will help the centre of Prague, not only from the point of view of easing the traffic or ensuring better use of space for pedestrians, but will also in particular reduce the level of emissions and noise. By opening the first bike depot, we are taking another step towards ensuring a healthier city,” said Petr Hlaváček, 1st Deputy Mayor. 

The ideal site for location of the logistics depot was chosen in Těšnov near the Florenc metro station on the border of Prague 8 and Prague 1. This location has been used as a private car park until this September. But the important thing about the site is not only its location on the edge of the city centre. It is also protected against bad weather by the bridge carrying the main traffic artery through Prague and is also easily accessible from the point of view of deliveries from peripheral parts of the city via this traffic artery. 

Pilot operation is planned for 6 to 8 months and will be continuously and regularly evaluated. The logistics and delivery companies Dachser, DHL Express, DPD, GLS, Messenger, PPL and Rohlik.cz are participating in the project. They will jointly be operating a fleet of more than 30 electric cargo bikes of various types and using various technologies. 

Depot.Bike operates as a transfer point for parcels from vans which transport them from company warehouses on the outskirts of the city to the storage container of the specific logistics company in the depot. The courier collects it from there, puts it into the cargo compartment of their electric bike and then, parcels are delivered to their recipients in the centre quickly and with zero emissions. One courier is able to deliver up to 80 parcels per day from this depot. 

“The pilot project for the Prague bike depot takes us yet another step closer to matching the standards achieved by other European cities. We are certain that this method of low-emission logistics will help not only the city centre, but also the people living there. We look forward to evaluation next year and hope that the Těšnov depot will be joined by others in other parts of Prague,” adds Ondřej Boháč, Director of IPR Praha.

If operation is evaluated in a positive light by the logistics companies and Prague City Hall, City Council is prepared to consider introduction of regulation for entry by lorries and vans into the centre of Prague. The depot will also be used to showcase new technologies in the field of light electromobility. Expansion of the depot to include a so-called Logistics Hub is planned for spring 2021, when it will also be possible to drop off or collect parcels to and from the delivery company in person. Organisation and operation of the Cargo Depot is ensured by the Czech electric bike specialist ekolo.cz in collaboration with TSK Praha. 
  
“Electric cargo bikes are the next “big thing” in development of urban transport. At ekolo.cz, we believe that thanks to operation of the Depot, transportation of goods by bike will become a regular part of life in our city and that it will at last also become the norm for the citizens of Prague to move around using either conventional or electric bikes” says Jakub Ditrich, project manager at ekolo.cz. 
  
“PPL will be using three electric bikes at the bike depot. Thanks to the fact that these are not trikes, they will also be able to handle narrower spaces, something which will come in handy in the centre of Prague. The current capacity of the cargo box on one bike is 140 l. If necessary, this can be replaced by a larger one in future. Including the courier, the electric bike can carry a total of 180 kg and we anticipate that one bike courier will be able to deliver 50 parcels per day. They will always deliver some of them and then return to the depot for the next load. For now, we will only be using electric bikes for smaller parcels without the option of payment on delivery. They last the whole day on one charge. We are certain that after evaluation of the six months of pilot operation, we will be able to extend this project further. This is to say that over the long term, we are focusing on reduction of CO2 and, following the example of our parent company DPDHL, we would like to achieve a zero carbon footprint in 2050. One of the ways in which we would like to achieve this is by deploying vehicles with alternative drive systems and also compensation of the remaining fumes we create with various beneficial projects,” says Petr Horák, CEO of PPL CZ s.r.o.