Study highlights limitations of banning combustion engines

A Dutch study on PostNL delivery routes shows that banning internal combustion engines in cities is not sufficient to promote the use of electric cargo bicycles. The research indicates that other factors, such as street width and the cost of micro-hubs, play a more significant role in the decision-making process for logistics companies.

Urban freight policies expand across Europe

As zero-emission zones multiply across Europe, with the Netherlands implementing such zones since January 2025, and the European Commission aiming for decarbonized urban freight by 2030, logistics companies must rethink their city delivery strategies. This shift is reflected in initiatives like Amazon’s trials of electric cargo bikes in Washington.

PostNL’s experience with electric vehicles

Researchers from Eindhoven University of Technology examined PostNL's operations and found that banning internal combustion engines in hypercenters does not necessarily lead to the adoption of light electric freight vehicles, including cargo bikes. PostNL initially used heavy cargo bikes for urban parcel delivery but phased them out due to high maintenance costs and inefficiency in transporting large volumes.

PostNL’s choice of electric vehicle

PostNL opted for a lighter electric vehicle shaped like a van, with a maximum width of 1.35 meters and a speed limit of 40 km/h, featuring a very slow mode for pedestrian zones. Its dedicated cargo compartment allows for efficient stacking of parcels in roll-containers with shelves, a crucial advantage for the last mile of delivery.

The yellow yolk theory

PostNL formalized a "yellow yolk theory" to decide between vehicles: in dense historical areas with narrow streets and constrained time slots, lighter vehicles outperform electric vans; in the "white of the egg," with wider roads, the van remains the standard. A PostNL manager summarizes this by asking, "If the streets are wide enough to easily maneuver an electric van, why choose a light vehicle?"

Challenges of micro-hubs and vehicle size

Reduced payload capacity and restrictions on access to fast lanes require multiple trips, thus necessitating micro-hubs near regulated zones. Finding an affordable and secure location close enough to maintain battery autonomy has become the main operational constraint for logistics companies.

Call for broader regulatory considerations

Researchers advocate for regulations that consider not only exhaust emissions but also the width and weight of vehicles, to stop treating a 3.5-ton electric van and a compact vehicle equally. This signals a message for manufacturers and Brussels, where the cycling industry is already requesting the recognition of bicycles in enterprise fleets.