Earlier this year, General Motors’ logistics sub-brand, BrightDrop, partnered with the University of Washington’s Urban Freight Lab (UFL) and a handful of local tech and delivery companies to launch a new eco-friendly last-mile delivery hub in Seattle. The company says this last-mile delivery center has so proven to be a major success – in part thanks to a team of dedicated workers and the practicality of the BrightDrop EP1 electric delivery pallet.
In a LinkedIn post published in November, BrightDrop said its last-mile delivery hub helped implement a 30 percent reduction per package in tailpipe CO2 emissions over traditional delivery methods. The delivery hub, located in Seattle’s Uptown neighborhood, serves as a home base for a fleet of e-bikes that have a rear rack for carrying the BrightDrop EP1 electrically-assisted delivery pallet.
While e-bikes are zero-emission and would theoretically produce a 100 percent reduction in emissions, the 30 percent figure cited by BrightDrop includes the emissions produced by trucks that delivered the packages to the Uptown-based delivery hub before they were sent out for last-mile delivery on the e-bikes. Still, this strategy helps reduce the number of emissions-emitting trucks and vans in Seattle’s core and also reduces the chance these vehicles will be left idling whilst the driver delivers the packages to doorsteps.
BrightDrop launched the Seattle delivery hub in partnership with AxelHire, a Seattle-based last-mile delivery company, and delivery bike manufacturer Coaster Cycles. The hub also has an on-site kitchen operated by a local on-demand food service called Reef, giving Seattle residents “quick and low-emissions access to some of their favorite delivery restaurants,” BrightDrop said earlier this year. The on-site kitchen reduces the need for services like UberEats, which often times utilize drivers in small passenger cars to deliver meals.
The BrightDrop EP1 was conceived as a propulsion-assisted, electric pallet for delivery people and couriers. With a small powered electric motor, the EP1 can increase operating efficiency for delivery companies like FedEx by reducing some of the physical strain on delivery drivers. Sales of the EP1 began in early 2021.
While the last-mile delivery hub in Seattle is only a proof-of-concept pilot program for now, it could be representative of the ways that BrightDrop plans to expand GM’s business going forward as the automaker looks to introduce electrified, eco-friendly solutions in all sectors of transportation.
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I truly like the new BrightDrop vans, but what happens in bad weather to the EVbikes? I know the Post Office has to deliver, rain, sleet or snow. not everybody lives in Seattle Washington.
Where do you think Seattle is? Next to Los Angeles?
What’s the charge time on that rig?
so how many packages were delivered?
Thus my question. Will you need to hire 2X the employees to get everything delivered??? Not saving any money that way, but will make parcel union bosses happy
There was an e-bike fire in a NY apartment recently. People had to climb down a pipe on side of building.
There are ice engine fires everyday , just no one reports them!!
To be safe, that guy in the first photo needs a helmet. It's easy to get bumped in city traffic.
Cool idea but where do you park that big 3 wheeler while you make your deliveries? I hope not on the sidewalk.
That 3 wheel bike wouldn’t hold a 1/4 of the packages I deliver and it won’t get around in the 2 feet of snow or ice. And the driver isn’t protected from the elements at all.
Wow now we can be just like China!
Why bother putting an electric motor and battery on a bike. just do it the old fashioned way, pedal, chain,& sprockets.
To petal a load that big would be difficult for many Americans. I doubt pay would be increased for the effort.
Brightdrop is a very cool addition to GM. Brightdrop plus Cruise are a huge component of the company's future going forward. Not many people want a Cadillac regardless of the technology but these new endeavors show promise.
Nobody really cares