Sustainable, maneuverable, useful: the cargo bike as a company bike

Companies can make an important contribution to greater climate protection. Companies' mobility concepts in particular can often be optimized. In future, cargo bikes will be a useful addition to electric cars - especially on larger company premises.

Germany has set itself ambitious climate targets. Taking swift and effective measures to decarbonize is also a high priority for companies. In addition to production processes and building efficiency, company mobility is a key lever here. However, optimizing vehicle fleets and their use can not only make companies more sustainable - it can also make processes more efficient and save costs.

The electrification of the company fleet is seen by many companies as a key approach to achieving greater sustainability. However, they often continue to rely on passenger cars. However, even if they are electrically powered, they have a number of disadvantages: the purchase and maintenance costs are relatively high and delivery can take a long time. In addition, the government environmental bonus, which was intended to make the purchase of commercially used e-cars more attractive, has been discontinued since September 2023. Furthermore, the existing range of e-cars often does not meet the needs of companies. This is particularly evident when it comes to smaller transports over short distances on the company premises or to nearby business partners: cars require parking facilities, are often cumbersome to load, do not have the desired maneuverability and are too bulky for shorter distances on the premises.

Added to this is the cost of the charging infrastructure. It has to be planned and implemented in line with demand. And the more e-cars there are in the company fleet, the more space is required for the charging facilities and the more extensive the corresponding construction projects become. Of course, cars will therefore not disappear from company fleets - they are often appropriate for medium-distance customer appointments or as company cars. However, it is worthwhile for companies to take a critical look at their existing mobility concepts, especially for journeys on the company premises or short distances.

Companies with large premises, several halls at one location, a winding route and partner companies in the immediate vicinity in particular can benefit from cargo bikes. This is because the bikes make it easy to traverse extensive premises. This allows employees to get from one building to the next effectively. In addition, small deliveries of parts or the technician's toolbox fit easily into the transport compartment. This means that distances at the production site can be covered more quickly than on foot and more easily than by car. The cargo bikes can often also be maneuvered indoors. An expected part can be brought directly to the recipient; technicians can get directly to their place of work.

Companies that are closely networked with their neighbors in their business park benefit even more from the use of cargo bikes. If a smaller delivery is required to a nearby partner, this can often be carried out by cargo bike. In turn, tools, materials or documents can also be picked up easily by bike without the need for parking spaces or fuel consumption. The use of cargo bikes is particularly useful in places where cars previously had to be used for short distances and light transportation and where there are few parking spaces available. In general, they offer various opportunities to make the fleet more effective, cheaper and more sustainable. As a side effect, employee satisfaction and the company's image as an employer can also be improved.

Would you like to find out more about the potential of cargo bikes for your business? Just ask us!