Online retailer setting up ‘micro-mobility’ hub in Hackney as part of efforts to reduce carbon emissions
Amazon said that it will introduce a fleet of e-cargo bikes and a team of on-foot delivery staff to take the place of thousands of van deliveries on London’s roads.
The online retailer is setting up its first “micro-mobility” hub in Hackney, east London, which –together with an existing fleet of electric vehicles – will result in 5m deliveries a year across nearly a 10th of the capital’s ultra-low emission zone postcode districts. The bikes will be used by a collection of partner businesses, not directly by Amazon, it is understood.
Amazon sets up more such delivery hubs across the UK this year as part of its efforts to reduce its carbon emissions. The company was identified as the partner for an on-foot delivery and a cargo bike hub in the city of London’s London Wall car park in 2021, but that project has yet to be completed.
John Boumphrey, the UK country manager of Amazon, said:
“Amazon is driving towards a global net-zero carbon future. One way we’re doing that is through the transformation of our transportation networks. Our new e-cargo bikes, walkers, and growing electric vehicle delivery fleet will help us make more zero-emission customer deliveries than ever before across London and the UK in the coming months.”
Cllr Mete Coban, Hackney council cabinet member for environment and transport, embraced the plan. Coban stated:
“Tackling transport emissions is key if we’re to reach net zero. We’re really pleased to have worked with Amazon to support them to take traditional vans off the streets and replace them with e-cargo bikes. This will help to reduce emissions and improve air quality for people in Hackney and beyond.”
Amazon’s move comes as milk and beer deliverers, window cleaners, plumbers, and DJs all get on their bikes due to new infrastructure, UK government incentives, and pledges to lower the carbon footprint of businesses.
Close to 2,000 cargo bikes were bought in the UK for commercial use in 2021, according to the Bicycle Association, and an equal number were bought for use by families and individuals. That number is believed to have risen last year.
Specialist delivery services, such as Velocious and Pedal Me, have expanded swiftly during the pandemic with one service, Zedify, opening 10 mini-hubs on brownfield sites outside cities to contribute thousands of zero-emission deliveries into each city each day.
Boumphrey said Amazon would also place over 30,000 solar panels on its facilities in Haydock Green, Manchester, Wakefield, Coalville, Bristol, and Milton Keynes by the end of 2022.
The company has approved 18 solar projects at its existing UK sites this year and aims to more than double the number of projects by 2024. These projects come accompanied by an addition to a wind farm on Scotland’s Kintyre peninsula and a further intended including at Kennoxhead in South Lanarkshire.