Environmental impact and cost price analysis of electric cargo bikes and electric vans for freight transport.

Abstract

The aim of this thesis is to analyse the environmental impacts of transporting goods using different "traditional" means of transport, i.e., thermal vans and small trucks for the delivery of goods, and different types of cars for the collection of parcels by individuals. These vehicles will then be compared with more recent electric means of transport, namely cargo bikes and vans. The first step of this thesis consists of a literature review to identify the most appropriate method to assess the harmful emissions related to the daily activities of a company. The Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) method was identified as such and was then used, once the most suitable software had been chosen. Two software packages, SimaPro and GaBi, were used, each with different features and offering a more in-depth analysis. A quick carbon footprint was also carried out, limited to the CO2 emissions. Secondly, an economic dimension was added by carrying out a cost analysis, for electric vehicles only, based on information collected from the transport partners of the City Line project, an urban logistics project for the "green" delivery of parcels in the city via electric vehicles. The results of the two analyses, economic and environmental, were then compared to provide an overview of the benefits of cargo bikes and electric vans. The last step is the conclusion, offering possible solutions but also setting out the limits of the study and proposing ideas for future research.