Publications
Searching for:
- "Carbon emissions (CO2)"
Emitted as a byproduct of vehicle engines that burn any form of petroleum, commonly gasoline, diesel, and jet fuel in the transportation industry, CO2 is a greenhouse gas that contributes to heat being trapped in the Earth’s atmosphere. In urban freight, we can see this play out as the number of home deliveries continues to increase. Fuel-consuming last-mile vehicles like box trucks and cargo vans drive around cities, back and forth from warehouses, and spend time cruising when parking spaces are unavailable.
Report
Published: 2025
Summary:
Boston Delivers was an 18-month pilot project (running September 2023 through February 2025) led by the Boston Transportation Department in partnership with Net Zero Logistics and funded by MassCEC through the ACT4All program. The project tested the use of electric cargo bikes for neighborhood deliveries, aiming to reduce congestion, improve air quality, and support local businesses by replacing car and van trips with more sustainable, right-sized vehicles.
Boston Delivers was an 18-month pilot project (running September 2023 through February 2025) led by the Boston Transportation Department in partnership with Net Zero Logistics and funded by MassCEC through the ACT4All program. The project tested the use of electric cargo bikes for neighborhood deliveries, aiming to reduce congestion, improve air quality, and support local businesses by replacing car and van trips with more sustainable, right-sized vehicles.
Topics:
Bicycle Research: Cargo Bikes and Bike-Truck InteractionsCommunity ResearchUrban Goods Delivery and Land Use
Bicycle Research: Cargo Bikes and Bike-Truck InteractionsCommunity ResearchUrban Goods Delivery and Land Use
Paper
Published: 2018
Journal/Book: Transportation Research Part D: Transport and Environment
Summary:
This research paper estimates carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions and vehicle-miles traveled (VMT) levels of two delivery models, one by trucks and the other by unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), or “drones.” Using several ArcGIS tools and emission standards within a framework of logistical and operational assumptions, it has been found that emission results vary greatly and are highly dependent on the energy requirements of the drone, as well as the distance it must travel and the number of recipients…
This research paper estimates carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions and vehicle-miles traveled (VMT) levels of two delivery models, one by trucks and the other by unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), or “drones.” Using several ArcGIS tools and emission standards within a framework of logistical and operational assumptions, it has been found that emission results vary greatly and are highly dependent on the energy requirements of the drone, as well as the distance it must travel and the number of recipients…