If you ask a marathon runner, the runner will corroborate that the last mile is often the hardest one for them during a marathon. However, a marathoner would also agree that the last mile happens to be the most rewarding of them all. After all, isn’t it in the last mile that we see runners turn into legends?

The case is not so different with e-commerce companies either. While all the stages in the supply chain are equally important, it’s ultimately the last mile that determines whether a customer is happy or not. Customers do not see the supply chain processes before the last mile delivery; they are only likely to remember how the product got to their hands. Thus, if the last impression doesn’t go well, it would drastically affect the customer experience and, in turn, cost a business! That’s why e-commerce businesses—from the giants to the startups alike—have been increasingly focusing on the last mile logistics. According to a Frost & Sullivan report, almost 40 percent of total logistics costs are currently associated with the last mile delivery.

But unfortunately, even after such heavy investments, businesses find it hard to keep up with the evolving customer landscape. E-commerce businesses, for instance, feel that they are being pulled in multiple directions by contradictory last mile demands! On the one side, businesses are expected to deliver their products to customers quickly, even in the most bustling cities. On the other hand, businesses also have to address the increasing concerns over the carbon emission resulting from such fast deliveries. Caught in this Gordian knot, searching for an ideal last mile delivery solution is a continued quest for businesses. Interestingly, that’s where RIKSCHA is ushering in a new era with its heavy load cargo bike – RIKSCHA RV1.

RIKSCHA’s RIKSCHA RV1 is a sustainable yet holistic solution for e-commerce businesses to carry out their last mile deliveries swiftly in the cities. The heavy load cargo bike combines the best of a bike and a small electric mini-van, attaining up to 25 kilometres per hour speed and carrying up to 450 kilograms of load. Notably, RIKSCHA RV1 offers unparalleled manoeuvrability for last mile deliveries with a small turning radius and its special permit for cycle tracks. Concurrently, the physiological adaptation of an ergonomic design makes RIKSCHA RV1 exceptionally driver-friendly and comfortable. “By being powerful, smart, and modular, RIKSCHA RV1 presents an ideal option for e-commerce businesses to carry out their last mile deliveries swiftly and sustainably,” says Pascal Nydegger, the founder of RIKSCHA.

Moreover, powered by a cutting-edge electric engine, RIKSCHA RV1 has zero emissions and low energy use, making it the best sustainable last mile delivery option for businesses.

Modular, Smart, and Impressive

What’s driving RIKSCHA RV1 further ahead of its competition is its extensive modularity and light weightiness. This makes the box system of RIKSCHA RV1 perfect for a diverse range of delivery purposes; it can be customised to the unique delivery requirements. The box system can also be easily detached from the bike. For example, the boxes can easily be tailored to meet the requirements of a painter or handyman or can even be replaced with something like a coffee bar. RIKSCHA RV1 successfully caters to all those varied requirements. The cheery on top is the large and impressive advertising area on the box system and the vehicle, adding more value to the delivery system!

Due to such expansive capabilities, RIKSCHA RV1 is swiftly carving a niche for itself in the sector today. How the vehicle is being used widely amid the pandemic demonstrates its efficiency. In Switzerland, RIKSCHA RV1 is currently being used by a leading pharmaceutical company to collect coronavirus test samples from different places. “Driven by this use case, we are also improving our offering in the healthcare domain and ticking every requisite for compliant medical transportation,” cites Nydegger. Similarly, RIKSCHA RV1 is also being used to deliver food and groceries in various parts of the country.

Just like its vehicle, RIKSCHA is remarkably flexible in its service delivery as well. RIKSCHA RV1 is delivered as a whole package, including the vehicle’s after-sales service. At the same time, the company also allows the clients to rent the vehicle, which makes its business model more versatile and well-suited for companies of any size and requirement.

Riding on the coattails of such competencies, RIKSCHA is today well set to expand its footprint throughout Europe. The company plans to start with the serial production of the vehicle very soon. In the wake of the e-commerce boom, there is a significant demand for heavy load cargo bikes in last mile delivery, and RIKSCHA RV1, with its unique capabilities, can effectively address that growing demand. Nydegger briefs his company’s trajectory in that regard, “We are not only looking to enhance the segment but also become a leading player in the heavy load cargo bike domain,” concludes Nydegger.