Investigating the Potential of an Electrified Fleet used for Last-mile in Urban Environments A multiple case study at a last-mile delivery company
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Typ
Examensarbete för masterexamen
Master's Thesis
Master's Thesis
Program
Industrial ecology (MPTSE), MSc
Sustainable energy systems (MPSES), MSc
Sustainable energy systems (MPSES), MSc
Publicerad
2023
Författare
Stadelmann, Fabien
Ivanetti, Klara
Modellbyggare
Tidskriftstitel
ISSN
Volymtitel
Utgivare
Sammanfattning
The transportation sector, more specifically the road vehicles, accounts for 12% of global carbon
emissions, and a large majority of these are due to freight transport. Today the preferred choice of fuel
in the sector is diesel which, in addition to the global negative externalities it produces, also emits a lot
of local pollution. These types of emissions are heavily apparent in last-mile deliveries, the last stretch
of a supply chain entailing the transportation of goods from a transit point to the end customer. Last-
mile is seen as one of the most challenging parts of the supply chain as freighters need to consider the
complexities of urban environments. The last-mile delivery is an essential part of the supply chain with a
lot of potential for sustainable development. A proposed solution being investigated at the present time
is the utilisation of electric vehicles to mitigate negative externalities from last-mile deliveries in urban
environments.
The aim of this paper was to investigate the potential electrification of a last-mile delivery company’s
vehicle fleet. A transition from their current fleet of internal combustion engine vehicles to electric vehicles.
The issue was divided into two research questions, the first was to investigate the contributing factors,
both internal and external to electrifying a vehicle fleet and the second was to find the potential for the
case company to electrify their current routes. The answers to the research questions were found from
a multiple case study on the four cities of Gothenburg, Stockholm and Malmö in Sweden along with
Copenhagen in Denmark. This was accompanied by a literature review on relevant subjects, collection
and interpretation of historical data of routes from the case company. Lastly, a scenario analysis with the
basis in a route optimisation platform was conducted, by investigating the potential of deploying electric
vehicles now or in a potential future where necessary infrastructure and policies are in place.
The results showed great potential for both electric vehicle types tested. With today’s political climate,
a smaller electric vehicle type is preferable for the cases in Sweden while in Denmark a vehicle more similar
to the traditional diesel vehicles is plausible. The conclusion of the study was that it is not possible for
the case company to attain full-scale electrification of their vehicle fleet without measures from the two
countries’ governments and other actors within society. With a need to strengthen the infrastructure
required for large-scale electrification of the last-mile delivery industry in both Sweden and Denmark.
Beskrivning
Ämne/nyckelord
Last-mile Delivery , Green Logistics , Electric Freight Vehicles , Micro-hub , Route Optimisation