Last-mile microhub in Zaragoza, Spain
The Challenge
Zaragoza is one of the biggest cities in Spain. Its city centre has more than 53,000 citizens and, with the ecommerce growth, concentrates the majority of the last mile deliveries.
As other big cities, the access to develop last mile delivery in the centre is complicated due to traffic, narrow streets, parking zones and, since 2023, the Low Emissions Zone (LEZ) that has been implemented.
The perfect solution for a successful and sustainable last mile distribution should provide a nearby location in the centre of the city, and also the use of sustainable vehicles to minimise the pollution footprint and fulfil the LEZ restrictions.
The Solution
In order to get over those challenges, CITYlogin (sustainable last mile distribution company located in some of the biggest cities of Spain) introduced a microhub of 600 sqm. in the city centre of Zaragoza in October 2022.
With this microhub, CITYlogin distributes more than 1500 parcels per day all over the Zaragoza city centre with 100% electric motorbikes. The parcels, which have been already classified by routes previously in a bigger warehouse, are transported to the microhub. Once there, they are loaded in the electric motorbikes which will make the routes all over the city centre. Moreover, the electric motorbikes can be charged in the microhub because it has its own chargers inside.
Making an impact
This process gives to the city environment and the last mile process three benefits:
First one, the proximity of the microhub to the city centre reduces the number of kilometres driven by 21%. The use of lighter and smaller vehicles reduces delivery time by around 30% compared to a conventional van, and driving time by around 12%.
The second one is related with the sustainability of the process. The last mile process is 100% sustainable as the motorbikes used are electric. It guarantees access to the Low Emission Zones and also reduces the pollution levels in the city centre, making the last mile process more efficient and eco friendly. The use of electric motorbikes implies the reduction of more than 382,76 CO2 grams per delivery compared with the use of diesel vans.
The last one is about the citizens' satisfaction with this new delivery model. The use of smaller and more silent vehicles make the centre more friendly for pedestrians and neighbours, that improves the quality life in urban areas.
Lessons learnt
The use of microhubs or urban consolidation centres are proved to be a good and trusted option for last mile delivery in big cities centres. In addition, this new formula of last mile delivery is being replicated in more and more cities in order to obtain its benefits: pollution reduction, quick access to the city centre, agile transport through narrow streets, less parking space needed to park... Definitively it is one of the new last mile distribution trends for a new sustainable urban logistics.