Is a cargo bike worth it? Comparison of e-cargo bikes and classic delivery vehicles
Challenges and trends in urban delivery logistics
Online retail is booming – and so is delivery traffic in our cities. What is convenient for consumers is becoming a challenge for logistics companies: congested roads, hardly any parking spaces and strict environmental regulations. Traditional vans in particular are reaching their limits – not only in terms of CO₂ emissions, but also in terms of efficiency.
More and more companies are therefore looking for more flexible, sustainable solutions for the last mile. Cargo e-bikes are coming into focus: emission-free, cost-effective and surprisingly powerful. But can they really replace vans?
We make the comparison – in terms of efficiency, costs and environmental balance.
Efficiency & speed - Which solution delivers faster?
One of the key issues in urban logistics is how quickly and efficiently goods reach the customer. Delays caused by searching for a parking space or traffic jams can have a negative impact on customer satisfaction and result in high costs.
While vans are often stuck in slow-moving traffic or have to search for a parking space for a long time, cargo e-bikes have a decisive advantage: they can use cycle paths, maneuver through narrow streets and drive right up to the recipient’s front door – without having to rely on free parking spaces.
Number of delivery stops per hour
A study by the University of Westminster investigated precisely these differences and found that cargo e-bikes can make up to 50% more stops per hour in city centers than delivery vans.Eine Studie der University of Westminster untersuchte genau diese Unterschiede und fand heraus, dass Cargo-E-Bikes in Innenstädten bis zu 50 % mehr Stopps pro Stunde absolvieren können als Lieferwagen.
| Vehicle type | Stops per hour | Efficiency advantage |
| Cargo e-bike | 12-15 stops | an use cycle paths, no need to find a parking space |
| Diesel transporter | 6-8 stopsTime lost | due to traffic & parking |
| Electric vans | 7-10 stops Depending | on charging infrastructure |
While vans often have to take detours or are restricted by traffic-calmed zones, cargo e-bikes can use the shortest routes flexibly and directly. This makes cargo e-bikes particularly efficient for delivery services with many short stops, such as parcel delivery, food deliveries or pharmacy and supermarket delivery services. Many companies are already using cargo bike delivery services to make their logistics more sustainable.
New study from Belgium: Cargo e-bikes deliver up to 28% more efficiently
A recent study by the Belgian Cycle Logistics Federation (February 2025), conducted by Kale AI, provides the first reliable comparative data between cargo e-bikes and conventional vans in real urban use. Over 32,000 deliveries on 345 routes of a Belgian logistics company that uses both vehicle types in mixed operation were analyzed.
The results are clear: cargo e-bikes achieve a median of 18.85 deliveries per hour, while vans only achieve 14.77 – an increase in efficiency of 28%.
In particularly dense urban areas, cargo e-bikes deliver up to 75% faster than vans.
In difficult urban zones, vans need an average of 4.2 minutes per stop, cargo e-bikes only 2.4 minutes.
The “worst-case” deliveries (95th percentile) took up to 14.5 minutes with vans, compared to a maximum of 5.8 minutes with cargo e-bikes.
The study clearly shows that in high-density inner-city areas, a single cargo e-bike can replace one or two vans – both in terms of speed and reliability.
Flexibility in city traffic
Another advantage of cargo e-bikes is that they are less susceptible to traffic obstructions. While vans are often slowed down by roadworks, road closures or heavy traffic, cargo e-bikes can easily choose alternative routes. In addition, there is no need to waste time looking for a parking space, as they can be parked directly at the delivery location.
Cargo e-bikes have clear advantages here. They allow more stops per hour, avoid typical traffic problems and are not dependent on parking spaces. This makes them particularly efficient for fast and flexible last-mile deliveries.
Cost comparison - cargo bike vs. van
While vans often have to take detours or are restricted by traffic-calmed zones, cargo e-bikes can use the shortest routes flexibly and directly. This makes cargo e-bikes particularly efficient for delivery services with many short stops, such as parcel delivery, food deliveries or pharmacy and supermarket delivery services. Many companies are already using cargo bike delivery services to make their logistics more sustainable.
| Cost factor | Cargo e-bike Dies | el transporter | Electric transporter |
| Fuel / energy approx. | 0.50 € / 100 km (electricity)1 | 2-15 € / 100 km (diesel) | 5-8 € / 100 km (electricity) |
| Maintenance costs | Low (fewer mechanical parts) | High (oil change, brakes, filters | )Medium (battery wear) |
| Insurance | costs | Low H | igh High |
| Parking fees None (m | ay ride on cycle pat | hs)3-5 € / hour 3- | 5 € / hour |
Fuel vs. electricity: While a diesel van costs up to €15 in fuel for 100 km, the electricity consumption of a cargo e-bike is only €0.50 for the same distance – a saving of up to 90%.
Low maintenance costs: Cargo e-bikes do not require oil changes, brake fluid checks or complex engine maintenance. Studies show that their maintenance is up to 40 % cheaper than that of vans.
Hardly any additional costs: vans incur high insurance costs and parking fees, which can quickly add up to several thousand euros per year. Cargo e-bikes, on the other hand, are much cheaper to insure and can be parked almost anywhere free of charge.
Total Cost of Ownership (TCO) – What does a vehicle cost in five years?
The long-term total costs of a vehicle are often underestimated. A realistic cost comparison over five years shows how big the savings can be with cargo e-bikes.
| Cost factor | Cargo e-bike Dies | el transporter | Electric transporter |
| Acquisition costs | 12,000 – 15,000 € | 40,000 € | 55,00 € |
| Energy costs | 500 € | 12.000 | €6.00 € |
| Maintenance costs1 | .50 €8.00 | €5.0 | 0 € |
| Insurance | 1.00 € | 6.00 € | .00 €6.00 |
| Parking costs | 0 €7. | 50 € | 7.50 € |
| Total costs | 15.000 – 18.000 € | 73.50 € | 79.50 € |
Comparison of service life
The service life of a vehicle depends heavily on its use and maintenance. Cargo e-bikes perform particularly well here:
| Vehicle type | Average service life | Maintenance effort |
| Cargo e-bike8- | 12 years | Gering |
| Diesel transporter | 8-12 years (150,000 – 200,000 km) | High |
| Electric transporter | 8-10 years (battery change required) | Medium to high |
Cargo e-bikes have a comparable or even longer service life than vans, but incur significantly lower maintenance costs. Especially in urban areas, where high mileages are less common, they can be used reliably for many years.
Payload capacity - What are the limits?
Another decisive factor when choosing the right means of transportation is the maximum load capacity. While vans can transport large quantities of goods, cargo e-bikes are limited in their payload. But how big is this difference really, and is the load capacity of cargo e-bikes sufficient for the requirements of urban logistics?
The following table shows how the payload capacity differs between the vehicle types:
| Vehicle type | Maximum payload | Range of use |
| Cargo e-bike | 150 – 300 kg | Short distances, small deliveries |
| Diesel transporter | 800 – 1,200 kg | Bulky and heavy loads |
| Electric transporter | 700 – 1,000 kg | More environmentally friendly option for large quantities |
While vans are still irreplaceable for transporting heavy and bulky goods, cargo e-bikes easily meet the requirements of many urban delivery services. They are a particularly efficient alternative for parcel deliveries, food deliveries and pharmacy deliveries.
Environmental balance - Which means of transportation is more sustainable?
One of the biggest differences between cargo e-bikes and vans lies in the direct emissions. While diesel vans emit large amounts of CO₂ and pollutants every day, cargo e-bikes are completely emission-free.
CO₂ emissions and air pollution in comparison
| Vehicle typeCO₂ | emissions per km | Air pollution |
| Cargo e-bike | 0g | No emissions |
| Diesel transporters | 160 – 200 g | High particulate matter pollution |
| Electric transporter | 40 – 60 g | Depending on the electricity mix |
Cargo e-bikes therefore make a direct contribution to reducing air pollution in cities. In addition to CO₂, diesel vans also produce nitrogen oxides and particulate matter, which have a significant impact on air quality. Although electric vans are significantly more environmentally friendly, their actual CO₂ emissions depend heavily on how the electricity used is generated.
Air pollution & energy consumption
Not only direct emissions, but also energy consumption plays a decisive role in the environmental balance.
When are cargo e-bikes the best choice for last mile delivery?
Environmental balance - Which means of transportation is more sustainable?
Cargo e-bikes really come into their own in city centers and on the last mile. They are particularly suitable for:
- Parcel deliveries, food and pharmacy deliveries with many short stops
- Deliveries in pedestrian zones and environmental zones where vans are restricted
- Cost-efficient solutions for companies that want to reduce operating costs and emissions
Thanks to their maneuverability, the use of cycle paths and the elimination of the search for a parking space, cargo e-bikes are in many cases faster and more economical than vans.
When are vans the better choice for last mile delivery?
Despite the many advantages of cargo e-bikes, conventional vans remain irreplaceable in certain situations:
- Heavy-duty transportation with a payload of more than 300 kg
- Long-distance deliveries outside cities
- Industries with bulky or large-volume goods, e.g. furniture or machine deliveries
For these applications, electric vans offer a sustainable alternative to diesel vehicles.
Conclusion
The question is no longer whether cargo e-bikes work – but where they can be used sensibly. In dense city centers, they deliver faster, more efficiently and more quietly. They have long been sufficient for many urban delivery tasks.
The challenge now is to adapt existing structures: Bringing depots closer to the city, streamlining processes, rethinking logistics. Those who are prepared to take these steps have the opportunity to make their fleet not only more sustainable, but also more future-proof.
