al-assisted electric cargo bikes since 2018 . These micro-mobility vehicles improve e ! ciency , lower cost and emit zero carbon emissions ,” he says . “ Next year , we expect to bring on a new generation of micro-mobility vehicles called Quads . Quads are four-wheeled electric vehicles designed for urban logistics . They ’ re already being used in cities like Mumbai and London . They are sturdier and have more capacity . Think of a futuristic golf cart with an ATV-type frame . These vehicles are better equipped than cargo bikes to handle heavier loads , are expected to need fewer repairs and won ’ t be prone to the flat tires that often plague e-bikes operating in an urban environment ,” he says .
Chiusano also expects the next generation of micro-mobility vehicles to offer an improved experience for those making the deliveries . Riders on their new quads will be protected against the weather with a plexiglass bubble , making them feel more comfortable and safe . “ l beta tested one of these vehicles and was impressed with the experience ,” says Chiusano . “ It had a padded seat , a rearview camera , two big side view mirrors and a bubble in the front to protect the driver against the weather . They still need to be pedal-assisted to meet city guidelines for these vehicles , but the experience is much more like driving a car .”
Increase in the Variety of Micro Mobility Vehicles in 2025
In the past , there have been a few providers of equipment and technology for micro-mobility vehicles with varying degrees of success . Chiusano forecasts that 2025 will be the year for a real shake-up in this sector : “ In 2025 , we ’ re going to continue to see a lot of startups going into the micro-mobility space . You ’ ll see tremendous innovation in the next few years .”
Because the sector is hot and attracting many companies , Chiusano also forecasts some will fail . “ The same thing happening in the auto industry will happen in the micro-mobility space next year ,” he says . “ I still think we ’ re early in the transition . It will continue to get bigger and bigger , but not all entrants into this space will succeed . I predict fewer will be part of the landscape by the end of 2025 .”
Micro Hubs
The traditional approach of trucks going in and out of a central warehouse in the heart of a city doesn ’ t work in an urban environment . Companies like Citipak and Net Zero locate their warehouses outside the city limits to deal with high real estate prices and crowded streets . “ We have an 80,000 square foot warehouse in Brooklyn where 15,000 deliveries a day are being sorted and broken up into routes ,” says Chiusano . “ Then , we have four different micro hubs in Manhattan that we line-haul the work into . It ’ s delivered throughout the city from there .” It ’ s a strategy that he expects to get more popular in 2025 to deal with the escalating challenges of deliveries in high-density areas .
Financial Relief for Carriers That Have Made Investments in Urban Logistics Alternatives
Chiusano is passionate about changing how deliveries are made in high-density areas like New York City . Still , he ’ s very aware of the high financial burden it puts on carriers that want to switch
38 customized logistics & delivery Magazine I fall / winter 2024