Electric Car Delivery Has Radically Reduced Carbon Emissions

Electric vehicles for delivery of goods are very effective in reducing carbon emissions. (photo: Starship Technologies doc)

JAKARTA - It is estimated that there are currently 280,000 trips and carbon emissions associated with fossil fuel cars could be cut in one city. This happens because of the use of delivery robots that run on electric power and are emission-free.

This is a great example of using advanced technology to make life easier for humans, while protecting planet Earth at the same time.

Delivery robots are not a new idea and the adoption of services that use automated systems like these to save time and reduce greenhouse gases has increased rapidly. Starship Technologies is one such company and its delivery bots have driven more than 30,000 miles in 2017.

In 2019, 100,000 shipments were completed, the number has increased fivefold to 500,000 in 2020. Even now rolling to a million shipments by the end of January 2021, and faster to reach 2,000,000 shipments by October 2021.

In the UK, the city council of Milton Keynes boasts of a greatly reduced carbon footprint, in part due to the robot delivery service Starship Technologies which has saved some 280,000 car trips since its arrival in 2018.

Preliminary findings from an internal study showed 137 tonnes of CO2 and 22 kilograms of NOx were saved, with a reduction of 23 kilograms of 10-micron particles and 12 kilograms of 2.5-micron particles in the air. CO2 and NOx are harmful emissions that directly or indirectly affect the climate, while micro-particles are known to be harmful to human health. The company highlighted the initial response from Milton Keynes residents in a 2019 YouTube video.

The six-wheeled delivery robot can operate independently, but can also be piloted remotely when needed. Customer privacy is guaranteed by using obfuscated low-resolution video transmissions to protect identity.

iPhone and Android apps are available to allow customers to schedule pick-up and delivery within a four-mile radius, making them ideal for short-haul trips that generate large amounts of air pollution due to the fast starts, stops, and idling required for city driving.

Space delivery bots are also quite useful in universities and services are growing rapidly in that area. Shipping costs about $2 per trip and each robot can carry up to 20 pounds of groceries or other supplies.

The incredible detail given in the report is that each shipment is estimated to use almost the same amount of energy as boiling water for a cup of tea, saving on car trips and associated carbon emissions.

Nearly 70 percent of Starship customers use delivery services instead of driving to the store, providing an easy path to a greener future. Starship is also used in the US and is starting to appear in several cities and universities across the country.

That means the emission reductions that Milton Keynes has enjoyed as a result of electric delivery robots will likely soon help more areas.