Abstract

Unconsolidated freight transport creates increasing problems in cities due to the use of public space and its negative environmental impact. The research project MULE analyzes if mobile multi-functional urban logistics platforms with electric propulsion in combination with a flexible two-stage city logistics concept can lift urban freight transport to a new level by using electric, (partially) autonomous utility vehicles that increase the efficiency of goods transport. To investigate its feasibility, the concept is modelled on vehicle level to investigate the electric drive-train as well as on logistics level. The feasibility of the holistic implementation of the MULE concept is realistic with regard to the concept’s cost economy and simultaneously has a high ecological potential. The cost saving potential is the result of combining automated loading concepts, a two-stage (multi-stage) city logistics system as well as vehicles with tailored electric drive trains using intermediate charging.