Omniva rolls out e-cargo bikes to provide postal services in densely populated areas

Omniva is going to expand its fleet in order to provide sustainable postal services by implementing electric Vok Bikes cargo bikes on a wider scale. The first five bicycles have already arrived and are ready for deliveries.

Kristi Unt, member of the Management Board of Omniva, stated that electric bikes are another step by Omniva for providing services in a manner that supports a green living environment. The company is already using solar panels in its centre of logistics at Rukki Street, and starting from March, new electric cars are used in several locations in Estonia for providing postal services. “We have decided to focus on providing our services in an environmentally friendly manner and are taking gradual steps towards this goal. This spring and summer, couriers are going to deliver shipments on 15 new electric bikes in various regions of Estonia,!” said Unt. “Vok Bikes are fast, efficient, and well suited for providing our postal services in densely populated areas. We are planning to expand the use of electric bicycles in the future.”

Omniva’s electric bikes are going to be used in Tallinn, Tartu, Jõgeva, Haapsalu, Kuressaare, and Pärnu. The maximum speed of a Vok Bike is 25 km/h and it can travel up to 100 km before having to recharge. For convenience, the bike has a windscreen and a roof which protect the rider from bad weather. A cargo container is at the back of the bike, allowing to transport periodicals and letters in a volume which would be impossible with a regular bicycle. Compared to completing a postal route on foot, an electric bike allows serving 15% more customers. In addition, the cargo bike is excellent for areas which are hard to reach by car. The same traffic rules and safety requirements apply to electric bikes as to all road users on bicycles.

Last year, Omniva commissioned its first electric cargo bike in Tallinn in order to test it as a pilot project. A courier uses it in the city centre for delivering postal items. “The initial experience of using an electric bike for providing services in a densely populated area is positive, so we decided to introduce the bikes gradually: first, in cities, but later, perhaps also in smaller cities and towns,” added Jaan Lisitski, Head of Logistics and Transport at Omniva. “The advantage of using a bike in densely populated areas with a lot of traffic is the ease and convenience of access to buildings and manoeuvrability. Our couriers are enthusiastic about using electrical cargo bikes, so there is no shortage of willing users!”