A mobility-as-a-service ‘dark hub’ that enables London’s last-mile industry to go electric has launched from technology company Port and Q-Park.
The two firms have repurposed Q-Park’s Leicester Square car park to include a Mobility Hub that enables individual couriers or delivery firms to rent small delivery EVs – including e-bikes, e-cargo bikes, mopeds or scooters. The EVs can be hired on a weekly or monthly subscription through the Port app and returned back to the hub at the end of the working day, where they are charged and available again the next day.
The new ‘dark hub’ concept is designed to enable the last-mile delivery industry’s transition to net zero in line with regulatory moves while also supporting growth – the £1 trillion sector, which includes parcel, food and grocery couriers, is predicted to grow 10% annually, requiring new scalable tech solutions.
As well as supporting the switch to electric, the platform also removes courier companies’ fleet parking, charging, maintaining, financing and management burdens.
And it’s expected to help tackle courier shortages by attracting new drivers to the sector; the dark hubs will enable couriers to commute into the city centre and pick up their fully charged vehicle for the day.
The concept has already been successfully trialled in Madrid and the company is now taking its first steps to expand across Europe – with plans to enter the Barcelona market next.
Kamil Suda, founder, Port said: “Electrification of the last-mile delivery industry is both a great challenge and opportunity; we want to bring Port’s solution to every major city to help the sector reach net zero and fully capitalise on the benefits of small EVs.”
John Denton, head of sales and marketing at Q-Park UK, added: “We are delighted that Port have decided to work with us to operate from our Leicester Square car park. We believe that our safe and secure facilities offer an ideal location for Port vehicles to be located and easily accessed by couriers. We are delighted to once again demonstrate why we are at the forefront of Sustainable Urban Mobility.”
