LKQ Euro Car Parts, is piloting the use of e-scooters and cargo pedal bikes to deliver parts to garage customers across London.
In partnership with courier provider Delivery Mates, seven electric scooters are now delivering to customers in Brixton, Catford, Colliers Wood, Acton, Edmonton, Hayes and Wembley branches – together with a cargo bike working out of Wembley.
The pilot has been designed to help LKQ Euro Car Parts further optimise the make-up of its last mile delivery fleet.
The business currently has 70 motorbikes carrying out deliveries across London and the south of England, and with the help of Delivery Mates, intends to replace them all with e-scooters in the months ahead, before considering the rest of its national fleet.
Matt Robinson, divisional director, at LKQ Euro Car Parts, commented: “This is a landmark moment on our sustainability journey, as we make continued informed changes across our fleet. Our e-scooters should be a relatively straight swap for the motorbikes we use already, and the cargo bike represents a significant opportunity we are excited to explore.
“Cargo bikes have a similar capacity to the LCVs we use across our branch network, and come with added benefits such as being allowed to use bus lanes – which means they could improve SLAs for our customers.
“We’ll never make changes that have a negative effect on the unbeatable service and delivery times our customers expect from us. This is about matching or improving what we do now and doing it more sustainably.”
Kevin Savage, chief operating officer at Delivery Mates, added: “Delivery Mates, alongside LKQ Euro Car Parts, enhances urban logistics through collaboration and innovation. Our carbon-free delivery operation, employing electric scooters and cargo bikes across Greater London, signifies our commitment to a sustainable future. Together, we’re not just delivering car parts but cleaner air, smoother traffic, and a greener tomorrow.”
The e-scooter and cargo bike trial marks the latest in a series of sustainable fleet upgrades made by LKQ Euro Car Parts and its parent company LKQ UK and Ireland. More than 100 electric vans have joined the branch fleet over the last six months as well as HGVs which run on alternative fuels derived from renewable sources.