Valladolid, Spain

Innovation focus and new services

Enabling technologies for more efficient and sustainable last-mile logistics!

Valladolid, with roughly 300,000 inhabitants and located north-western Spain, is committed to redesigning last-mile logistics to achieve a sustainable, low-emission mobility. To this end, they are working to adapt infrastructures and business models to new modes of mobility: electric vehicles and cargo bicycles. In parallel, the city is relying on data to address urban planning challenges. 

Context and challenges

By 2030, Valladolid aims to achieve climate neutrality. To achieve this, the city must address the traffic congestion that affects both the environment and the urban distribution of goods. The traffic, partly as a result of the growth of e-commerce, coupled with population density and limited space availability, make last mile distribution a complex challenge that impacts the city’s objective. In an attempt to resolve it, Valladolid is committed to a sustainable retail model based on zero-emission goods distribution solutions and an urban design that prioritises pedestrians and cyclists. Through the URBANE framework, Valladolid aims to promote sustainable urban freight transport models that contribute to social harmony and encourage active mobility. All this is done without compromising the growing supply needs of the population. 

Objectives and ambitions

Valladolid seeks a balance between the demands of last-mile delivery operators and the right of other users to use and enjoy public space. This ambition unfolds in the following objectives: 

  • Make L/U zones more efficient to achieve a more sustainable, orderly, and efficient urban goods distribution
  • Promote sustainable and environmentally friendly delivery practices 
  • Build a safer city for pedestrians

Innovations

In line with the objectives outlined above, the city has implemented three particular use cases based on technological innovations that are faithful to the city’s vision. 

  • Monitoring of L/U areas using Artificial Intelligence (UC1) 

Valladolid has developed an intelligent system based on image processing to control and monitor loading and unloading zones. Using the technology, Valladolid seeks to optimise the use of public space by exchanging data. In this way, they address the challenges of last mile logistics in the same way as the Internet did years ago: by optimising the utilisation of existing assets. 

  • Implementation of an innovative and sustainable solution of contactless parcel delivery (UC2) 

As a result of the need for flexibility, mainly driven by the desire for convenience, Valladolid has opted for an in-trunk delivery service. In particular, the city has gone a step further and transferred this concept to park & ride car parks. This use case has focused on a deterrent parking located outside the Low Emission Zone (15 minutes walking from the downtown area) to study the economic and environmental benefits of this delivery model. 

  • Techno-economic comparison of the use of combustion vehicles and I-FEVS prototypes vehicles (electric, safe, urban designed vehicles) equipped with CCAM functionalities in delivery services (UC3) 

In an attempt to accelerate the migration to electromobility, the city has promoted the deployment of zero-emission vehicles, adapted to the needs of last-mile logistics and committed to pedestrian safety. In particular, three prototype electric vehicles from the I-FEVS brand, partially powered by photovoltaic energy, were put into circulation. The focus was on the brand’s van and cargo bike models. The vehicles have been incorporated into the operational fleet of the national postal service (CORREOS). 

    Results and state of affairs

    In general terms, the development and implementation of the innovations have provided a tale of transformation in urban logistics. The main results of the implemented use cases are presented below. 

    • Use case 1: Thanks to the intelligent system developed, current practices based on manual surveillance of the loading and unloading zones at certain times of the day can be replaced by continuous monitoring of the infrastructure. In addition, the technology opens the door to dynamic freight curbside management, thus contributing to the city’s goal of achieving climate neutrality by 2030. The data collected show that the average parking time per vehicle in the downtown area is 25 minutes. Furthermore, it is observed that the usage of the zones is not homogeneous during the day.
    • Use case 2: The implementation of the in-trunk delivery service in park & ride car parks reduces the total distance travelled by delivery vehicles by 30-50%. This optimisation leads to a reduction of CO2 emissions by 15-50%, depending on the type of vehicle. The total distance travelled, regardless of the scenario, is less when cycling is the mode of transport used due to the simplification of routes. The total distance travelled can be reduced by up to 40% if bicycles are used as an alternative to cars in the downtown area. 
    • Use case 3: The use of partially solar-powered electric vehicles does not affect either efficiency or quality of deliveries: the same key operational performance indicators are maintained. In terms of CO2 emissions, the electrification of the fleet leads to massive environmental benefits: -96% emissions for vans and -99% for bicycles. Photovoltaic assistance reduces energy consumption by up to 30% for cargo bikes. Operational costs are reduced by up to 20% if electric vehicles are used as an alternative. In the context of urban routes, pedestrian safety is ensured by the development and implementation of a VRU detection system in the vehicles with an accuracy of around 90%. 

    Partners involved

    • AYUNTAMIENTO DE VALLADOLID – City of Valladolid: Pilot support and facilitation, citizen engagement 
    • CIDAUT: Pilot coordination and development of innovative technological solutions 
    • IFEVS: Last-mile delivery vehicles designer and provider