A Stellenbosch-based start-up, specialising in renting out locally manufactured e-vehicles, has seen an increase in demand during lockdown. This was as regulations resulted in increased e-commerce transactions, which in turn resulted in a higher demand for last-mile delivery.
This was according to Neil du Preez, CEO of Mellowvan. Manufactured by Mellowcabs, Mellowvans are three-wheeled e-vehicles.
Mellowvan’s co-founder, Ernie Aylward, said they’ve seen an influx of inquiries from large corporates and smaller businesses for last-mile delivery purposes.
“Companies are looking for ways to connect with customers during this pandemic without having to visit a brick and mortar shop,” said Aylward.
“We’ve seen more interest since the start of 2020 but the major spike [in orders] came in the weeks leading up to lockdown,” Aylward added.
Mellowvan driving in Adam Tas Street Stellenbosch on 27 May 2020.
PHOTO: Danny-B Smith
Environmentally friendly
“The convergence of technology, CO2 [carbon dioxide] regulations and the continued growth in e-commerce volume has started to transform the last mile delivery landscape,” said Du Preez.
Mellowvans have zero tailpipe emissions and a single Mellowvan could save 5.3 tons of annual carbon emissions, said Du Preez.
According to Du Preez, the average urban delivery vehicle travels 80 kilometers daily and emits approximately 256 grams of carbon dioxide per kilometer driven.
Even though electricity is coal-generated, it’s still more economic to charge and drive an electric vehicle, than having an internal combustion engine, explained Bartho Horn, electrical engineer at Mellowvan and a Stellenbosch University (SU) alumni.
Bartho Horn explains the energy effectiveness of an electric engine comparative to an internal combustion engine (please note that this audio clip is in Afrikaans).
According to Horn, three reasons for Mellowvan’s economic efficiency include that it’s 100% electric, has a unique brake and is light in weight.
“Its regenerator braking directs large amounts of energy back into the battery,” he explained, illustrating energy and cost-effectiveness in short distance contexts, where one would often brake.
The Mellowvan is 350 kilograms, in comparison with a Volkswagen ‘Caddy,’ weighing approximately 1.2 tons, said Horn.
DHL promotion photos, supplied by Mellowcab, and taken in Stellenbosch late 2019. This photo illustrates the additional branding revenue opportunity, by advertising on a leased Mellowvan.
PHOTO: Lucia du Preez
A green solution
The courier company DHL recently ordered a large number of e-vehicles to lease from Mellowvan, said Du Preez.
DHL’s environmental protection program, GoGreen, will reduce “all logistics-related emissions to zero” by 2050, according to spokesperson Anthony Beckley, vice principal of operations at DHL Express Sub Saharan Africa.
“We are developing [green solutions] to sustainably improve our carbon efficiency and minimize air and noise pollution,” said Beckley.
According to Beckley, Mellowvan aligns with DHL’s sustainability efforts.
What also appealed to DHL, was that Mellowvan is made on the continent, said Beckley. DHL is the “first express logistics company to set up in Africa, and the only one to be present in every African market,” said Beckley.
According to Megan Roper, vice president of marketing at DHL Sub Saharan Africa, a Mellowvan’s loading capacity is larger than a motorcycle but smaller than cargo vehicles. It is therefore ideal for use in high-density urban areas.
Moving to level 3
Lockdown regulations being eased to level 3 on 1 June, was great news for Mellowvan, said Du Preez.
According to Horn, level 3 enabled Mellowvan’s industrial partners to travel from Johannesburg to Stellenbosch to manufacture the recently ordered vehicles.
Bartho Horn testing the initial product, a Mellowcab, with Ernie Aylward to the left, in the background.