Online orders and demand for delivery have exploded since Covid-19. This comes at a high cost to drivers and courier companies.
With green solutions like electric scooters, traditional delivery methods like motorcycles and cars are simply uneconomical and outdated. That’s why the rate of adoption of electric scooters for short-distance transportation is increasing as companies move to more economical and greener solutions.
Electric scooters are proven reliable and have a track record of saving money for delivery companies around the world. Some of the benefits of using electric scooters for delivery applications include lower running costs, better safety, easy storage, better security and zero emissions.
“To show the local industry how efficient electric scooters can be, we showcased our S5 electric scooter at the recent Futoroad Expo in Gauteng. With an operating cost of 6c per kilometre, at the base price of energy of R2/kW, they can save a lot of money,” said Rick Franz, CEO of Applied Electric Vehicle Energy Reticulation Systems Africa (Aversa). “This makes electric scooters a more sustainable investment, eco- friendly and socially acceptable than conventional delivery motorcycles.”
Electric scooters are nippy and deliver parcels quickly, quietly and cost effectively. They have fewer moving parts and require less servicing at longer intervals, resulting in less downtime and more time on the road working for you. Servicing an electric scooter is also cheaper than conventional motorcycles.
“Electric vehicles are about 10 times more efficient at converting energy into motion than internal combustion engines, which results in huge savings when a person moves a short-distance fleet transportation to electric.”
Aeversa, a pioneer in the new energy transport market, consults the industry on the best ways to convert battery vehicles. It offers a “complete solution”, from determining the required vehicles to planning and installing the charging infrastructure. Its product offering includes maintenance and flexible financing options for infrastructure and vehicles. The company’s commercial electric fleet product range consists of battery-electric 3.5-tonne trucks, battery-electric panel vans and a range of electric scooters.
Franz explained that electrification will give you a competitive advantage in the market. “The savings in electric delivery are huge – in money, time and the environment. The concept is actually very simple. Electric scooters save on servicing and energy costs. If you add up all the costs, the scooters in the internal that combustion engine is very expensive to own.”
Recharging electric scooters is easy. Plug it into any standard three-pin 15A wall socket to recharge or use a high-speed 30-minute fleet charging system. Charging is not limited to your base of operations as drivers can recharge wherever they find a power outlet. Being able to use plug points at home means you don’t need special infrastructure. Aeversa’s scooter range also offers a dual battery system where one battery is left at your depot charging while you drive along with the other. It takes less than a minute to change a battery, giving a range of 65km to 85km per battery.
Chargers are rated with empty to full charge time, but S-Series electric scooters can also be charged. This is called opportunity charging. If you charge the battery from empty to full every day, you will use less than R200 of electricity per month, assuming a R3/kW electricity price.
The efficient 3kWh Bosch electric motor of the S5 electric scooter ensures maximum battery life and range. The S-Series consists of three models, the S5, S8 and S10. The S10’s dual battery system provides approximately 180km at different driving speeds of 60 to 100km/h. If driving faster, around 110km/h, its range will be approximately 160km.
“Electric scooters are designed to be easier on the environment and reduce your carbon footprint. However, quick and efficient deliveries mean happy customers and happy merchants. With high fuel prices affecting the cost of deliveries, electric scooters can reduce your monthly costs by 50% to 60%,” concludes Franz.
Source: QuickPic
