No more exhaust gases in parcel delivery: this is the goal of the GLS project in Düsseldorf city centre. GLS Germany is combining the experience acquired from several pilot projects and adapting the implementation to existing local infrastructure.

Zero-emissions vehicles

First, four vehicles with alternative drives were introduced between the beginning of 2019 and June – two VW eCrafters and two eBikes. Around 400 parcels per day could be delivered with zero emissions. Since the end of June, six additional eCrafters have been in operation. Together with the existing electric vehicles, they are delivering around 1,500 parcels per day to addresses around Düsseldorf.

GLS ParcelShop as a city depot

The GLS ParcelShop in the car park of the Karstadt department store is a key part of the project. Here, parcels for the city centre are handled and loaded onto eBikes. The eBikes as well as the eCrafters can be recharged at electric charging stations. Two publicly accessible electric charging facilities are part of the project.

For the future, the construction of a photovoltaic system with a storage battery on the depot roof in Neuss is under consideration for producing own "green" electricity.