Electrically driven cargo-bikes, so-called E-cargobikes, are regarded as part of the future solution of urban mobility for goods. They are not only cheaper to purchase and maintain than diesel-powered delivery vehicles. They also relieve urban traffic, are emission-free locally, manoeuvrable and often reach their destination faster where they can always find a parking space.

With GreenPack mobile energy solutions GmbH, a young Berlin-based startup is now setting out to offer Berlin businesses a sharing solution for e-cargobikes. The startup has focused on the development, production and sale of an intelligent, standardised exchangeable battery system.

Interested parties can convince themselves of the advantages of a more efficient delivery service for the last mile in Berlin without any obligation. The pilot project is officially called “Infrastructure with battery exchange stations – use of standardised battery modules with different applications and different partners from different areas”. In addition to the GreenPack start-up, the organisers are the Berlin Agency for Electromobility eMO, the German Solar Mobility Association BSM and the German Energy Storage Association BVES. From the end of September, ten E-Cargobikes will be available in cooperation with urban-e for test purposes as well as for short-term and long-term rental.

Ten E-Cargobikes from Douze Cycles to the start

These 10 cargo-bikes from French manufacturer Douze Cycles are available at the start. For a safe transport they are equipped with a lockable container with a volume of 160 litres at the front.

A 250 Watt Bafang motor serves as drive. The Douze Cargo-bikes are all equipped with high-quality GreenPack rechargeable batteries and thus optimised for a demanding urban use on the Berliner ‘LastMile’. With a range of around 100 kilometers, almost all everyday delivery and transport requirements should be covered.

Automatic battery changers as range extenders

However, many of the logistics experts are sceptical about the question of range. On the one hand, this is due to a lack of experience with electric vehicles. On the other hand, logisticians always fear the threat of an ‘extra loop’ in the daily supply stress. The lucrative, additional collection of an order would perhaps be countered by the lack of range of the batteries. This is exactly where the Greenpack start-up comes in.

If the 100 kilometres are not enough, practical battery changing machines are available in the city area. Shortly the battery exchanged, and you are on your way. Thus the founders help with their vision to make mobile energy available for everyone according to demand.

Read more from the category “Innovation”:

Berlin start-up focuses on supply for the last mile

“More and more self-employed people and fleet operators are currently dealing with the subject of e-bikes. With our new mobility service, they can test the efficiency of this advanced transport solution without any risk. They don’t have to worry about the performance of the batteries: With our new battery change infrastructure, we offer an all-round carefree package,” explains Tobias Breyer of GreenPack. A further advantage of the test: with a leasing offer for the e-cargobikes, couriers and logistics staff will also be able to enter this modern form of mobility.

There’s no question about it: Berlin is leading the way when it comes to innovative forms of mobility for the last mile. We will report on the test launch from the capital at the end of September.