Unless one has been living under a nuclear bunker, even the most faithful Luddite would have caved in and ordered something online by now.
As a result of this unprecedented growth of e-commerce, demand for last-mile deliveries has since skyrocketed, and with it comes the carbon footprint, we pay for the price of speed and convenience.
Evfy, a homegrown logistics startup created from the merger of GetVan and OkWhere, clearly recognises the environmental impact wrought by this unparalleled growth.
Operating Singapore’s first delivery fleet run entirely on clean energy, Evfy has big plans to catalyse a transition to zero-emissions last-mile delivery, and in doing so, contribute towards meeting the targets set out in the Singapore Green Plan 2030.
A sustainable last-mile solution
According to the World Economic Forum, using an electric vehicle (EV) for last-mile transport can reduce carbon emissions by as much as 60 per cent.
And with more businesses becoming more eco-conscious, they will no doubt be seeking greener options to meet their logistical needs.
This is perhaps where the appeal of Evfy comes in, with their vision to promote sustainability by offering zero-emissions delivery solutions.
We recognise that EVs will change the way logistics is conducted, and we aim to create an ecosystem that will promote and encourage the adoption of EVs for commercial usage, with particular focus on mid to last-mile logistics.
– Angie Koh, COO at Evfy
Evfy currently operates a fleet of 30 electric vans rented out to individual delivery driver-partners and small fleet owners.
But to differentiate themselves from other logistics firms that could easily switch to using EVs, Evfy is aware they have to offer something different in a crowded market.
According to Angie Koh, Chief Operating Officer (COO) at Evfy, there are plans to introduce a proprietary mobile app next year that will help driver-partners optimise delivery routes and manage warehousing needs more sustainably.
In addition, Evfy also offers a suite of customised business-to-business (B2B) fulfilment solutions ranging from inventory management, delivery arrangement and reverse logistics.
All of these will revolve around their green warehouse at Genting Lane, which comes with a fully decked solar panel rooftop to reduce reliance on electricity from the national grid.
Go green, go cheap
For businesses looking to go green, there is often the fear that opting for sustainable solutions can mean extra costs.
Particularly in the transport and logistics sector, the idea that using EVs will drive up costs is even more entrenched. After all, it would make sense for logistics companies to charge a premium to those using a green service to recoup their outlay.
For that reason, Angie was quick to dispel the common misconception that operating EVs will be more expensive than traditional internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicles.
“Despite their high cost, EVs are around three times more energy efficient than ICE vehicles, which leads to more cost efficiency in the long run.”
According to Angie, driver-partners renting EVs experiences more savings compared to those using ICE vans since they are not affected by the high and often volatile fuel prices.
Furthermore, Evfy driver-partners also benefit from access to charging at more competitive rates. But what about delivery charges?
“At Evfy, we strive to offer clean deliveries with quality service and agility at a competitive market rate for our clients,” said Angie.
This is good news because as Singapore accelerates its transition to become a low-carbon economy, it makes no sense to penalise businesses and consumers for wanting to go green.
The future of last-mile deliveries
Compact and efficient EVs are practically designed for last-mile deliveries in an urban setting.
Aside from bringing down emissions, EVs will also reduce noise pollution within our neighbourhoods since they are quick to start and virtually silent without a noisy engine.
Moreover, with Singapore aiming to deploy more than 60,000 EV charging points by 2030, there is also little reason for range anxiety.
By electrifying its fleet for the last-mile delivery sector, Evfy is a trailblazer in an industry that has been slow to adopt greener options. And in doing so, help plays a part in making our city even more liveable.
Featured Image Credit: Evfy