Cargo bikes save over 80% more carbon than EVs finds research

Zedify research has found that cargo bikes save over 80% more carbon than EVs, with the Cargo bike delivery company impact report showing that cargo bikes save over 95% more carbon per km than diesel vans.

Founded in 2018, Zedify’s mission is to help create healthier, cleaner, more liveable cities. The business works with major retail brands, parcel carriers and independent businesses across the UK to provide more sustainable last-mile deliveries using cargo bikes.

Its 2023 Impact Report also shows that the company saved 202 tonnes of CO2e and 426kg of NOx in 2023, the equivalent of 368 roundtrips from Land’s End to John o’Groats in a petrol SUV.

Without intervention, the report reveals that urban last-mile delivery emissions could reach 25 million tonnes of CO2e emitted annually by 2030.

Zedify co-founder and CEO, Rob King, comments: “Creating measurable change in UK cities is why we founded Zedify and it’s why we continue to push ahead with our mission to roll out the lowest carbon delivery model possible.

“Our commitment to zero-emission deliveries is crucial in preventing the release of greenhouse gases into our atmosphere and our latest report shows that cargo bikes are an incredibly effective way of doing that. They outperform the next best alternative EVs when it comes to CO2e emissions in the last mile, so it’s no surprise that cargo bikes are becoming an increasingly popular delivery option for brands looking to improve their sustainability efforts and do their bit when it comes to the UK reaching net zero.”

Zedify, which has also started to manufacture its own cargo trikes incorporating reconditioned batteries, employs over 170 riders, across 9 cities all of whom are paid a minimum of the real Living Wage.

King concludes: “If up to 7.5% of urban motorised traffic could be shifted to cargo bikes, and if the UK was able to replace urban diesel van journeys with cargo bikes at this rate, this could have a greater impact than ceasing all domestic aviation emissions. The time to act is now.”

To access the 2023 Impact Report in full, please visit: https://www.zedify.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/Zedifys-Impact-Report-2023.pdf

For full workings on how this data was calculated, please visit: https://www.zedify.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/Our-workings-2023-3.pdf