No abstract

Combined with shared service points in prime locations the use of Light Electric Vehicles (LEV) can help optimize the cost expensive „last mile“ of parcel service. [1] At the same time, a shared service point enables the switch from diesel driven engines to muscle-powered electric driving in cities. It is known, that in city operating courier services up to 80 % of actual used diesel fuel can be substituted by muscle supported electric driving. [2] To cover the needs of global operating parcel services a muscle-power supported LEV must meet the requirements of ergonomics (regarding usability in the modes drive and delivery) and parcel security. To gain economic benefits the construction of LEV for parcel delivery should be flexible enough to meet specific needs in cities - like the topography of the roadways, daily amount of goods to deliver and the legal provision at the local situation. Production of LEV in small and medium enterprises will unlock a niche for first industrial uses of Natural Fiber Composites (NFC) in load-bearing structures. By pre-impregnation a replicable quality will bring the structural light-weight construction with NFC to new fields of use, as the construction of a LEV will demonstrate. At the end of its life cycle, the vehicle proves further economic and ecological benefits due to the use of NFC: A cost effective thermal conversion under a reduced release of fossil CO2 is guaranteed. [3; 4]

Light electric vehicles (LEVs) facilitate a significant reduction in global warming potential (GWP) and other environmental impacts related to specific transport performance due to their lightweight construction. Low-voltage systems in the drive engine, an open vehicle design and online vehicle data processing allow LEVs to be repaired by independent workshops, thus enabling long vehicle use as well as conversion or retrofitting for periods of use beyond 20 years. LEVs are not yet very common in everyday life in Western Europe. In order to support the acceptance of muscle power-supported LEVs in the EU L7e registration class by users, the vehicle design and construction specifically address requirements in the areas of last-mile parcel delivery and other transport services, including passenger transport. Life cycle assessment was used to investigate two construction methods for LEVs, mixed construction and fibre composite construction, in terms of the production, service life phase and end of life. A vehicle configuration was developed which, in addition to resource-saving production and long-life operation, enables easy access for users and maintenance of the LEV for various purposes. The resource efficiency of light electric vehicles was proven with regard to the ecological aspects. The vehicle design shown here shows high potential for LEVs in the circular economy.

Re-Produktionsketten verwerten bisher nur wenig oder ungenutzte Reststoffe für dezentraleVersorgungskonzepte im ländlichen Raum. Wie können solche Konzepte auf urbane Räumeübertragen werden und welche Herausforderungen ergeben sich unter anderem für Energietechnikund Stadtplanung?