Using EVs for Ecommerce Deliveries Could Slash Urban Emissions, UNEP Says

Electric vehicles used for e-commerce deliveries could dramatically reduce urban emissions as online shopping continues expanding globally, the United Nations Environment Program (UNEP) says. 

Major delivery platforms recently launched Deliver-E in Dubai to electrify their vehicle fleets, with UNEP coordinating through its Global Electric Mobility Program. Founding members include Delivery Hero, DoorDash, iFood, Mr. D, Swiggy, Uber, Wolt, and Zomato, whose combined operations span numerous countries with billions of annual delivery trips. 

Delivery vehicle numbers will grow more than one-third worldwide by decade’s end as e-commerce expands, with traffic and carbon dioxide output expected to climb roughly 60% without operational changes. Food and package deliveries could generate 13% of total urban carbon emissions by 2030, according to World Economic Forum projections. With air pollution causing approximately 7 million early deaths yearly, specialists worry gasoline-powered delivery motorcycles and vans could worsen both climate impacts and public health outcomes in crowded cities. 

Switching from gasoline motorcycles to battery-powered equivalents could reduce delivery expenses by one-quarter while cutting emissions nine-tenths. In addition to the environmental benefits, corporations also have financial incentives for going green. Operating costs drop significantly, maintenance demands decrease substantially, and vehicles last considerably longer, making electrification attractive for companies managing large fleets. 

In Ecuador, cargo bikes and electric three-wheelers now handle deliveries throughout Quito’s historic center, replacing gasoline motorcycles that previously dominated streets near the Carondelet Palace in Ecuador’s protected heritage zone. 

UNEP leads this pilot program, converting restaurant logistics to battery power and demonstrating practical pollution reduction strategies for e-commerce. San Ignacio Restaurant, for instance, has deployed an electric motorcycle, two three-wheelers, and a van to manage ingredient procurement and customer orders spanning 2.5 to 12 miles. 

Quito’s demonstration project shows measurable results. According to Inter-American Development Bank analysis, drivers transported 300 tons of cargo over 15,500 miles and prevented 6 tons of carbon dioxide release. 

Delivery workers navigating steep terrain and colonial plazas reported better working conditions, increased cargo capacity, and improved hourly wages compared to gasoline motorcycle operations, suggesting battery-powered vehicles benefit both company economics and boost employee satisfaction. 

Juan Carlos Sanchez, San Ignacio Restaurant’s logistics manager, notes that eliminating tailpipe pollution, cutting noise, and reducing expenses collectively reshape business operations and neighborhood character. 

Internet retail currently represents over one-fifth of total sales and continues growing and shoppers increasingly prefer sustainable shipping methods that align with environmental priorities. 

UNEP’s initiative, funded through the European Union’s SOLUTIONSplus program, supports Ecuador’s plan to designate historic Quito a zero-emissions district while potentially providing a model for other cities addressing motorcycle pollution. 

Coalition members will focus on evidence gathering, technology assessment, lesson sharing, and practical coordination over immediate fleet conversion requirements. Deliver-E participants will then exchange proven approaches to enabling faster collective advancement through shared learning and coordinated rollouts across varied markets. 

EV makers like Bollinger Innovations, Inc. (NASDAQ: BINI) that are selling electrified delivery vans have an opportunity to tap into these foreign markets that are adopting electric means of delivering products in urban centers. 

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