Logistics company Gebrüder Weiss has begun using electric tricycles for deliveries to private homes and companies on the Croatian islands of Rab and Lošinj.
The vehicles can transport consignments weighing up to 500kg and cover 50km on one battery charge. They have a low-noise but high-performance electric motor and are easy to maneuver, which makes them suitable for deliveries in tourist resorts and national parks, and particularly in the islands’ small towns and narrow streets.
Barbara Bujačić, country manager, Croatia, Gebrüder Weiss, said, “It is important to maintain the islands’ authenticity and uniqueness. Using our electric tricycles to provide delivery services we help the island oases retain their charming character. And our customers will receive the goods they ordered online in an eco-friendly manner.”
In addition to the electric tricycles, Gebrüder Weiss Croatia has also started to use electric vans for deliveries to customers in Zagreb. An electric van can cover 170km on one battery charge, enabling up to 35 deliveries per day. These vehicles are suited to transportation in urban areas and reduce the noise pollution from traffic due to their low-noise electric motor. The batteries are charged via the company’s own photovoltaic system at its main location near Zagreb. The solar panels installed on the roof of the logistics facility have an annual total peak performance of 500KW and are stated to contribute to a saving of approximately 107 tons of CO2 per year.
Gebrüder Weiss implemented these sustainable measures in Croatia to take another step toward achieving its targets of climate neutrality by 2030. For several years, the company has invested in alternative drives for heavy-load transportation, and developed ecologically compatible solutions for the last mile. For instance, in the Greater Vienna metropolitan area, electric trucks are used for local transport and for deliveries to final customers in Austria and Hungary, and one of the first hydrogen trucks worldwide has been used in Switzerland since 2021. The acquisition of additional hydrogen and electric trucks in Germany is scheduled for 2024.
