In Hamburg, parties are investigating the possibility of running city distribution underground. A feasibility study should show whether goods can be transported between city hubs and the German city centre via underground tunnels.
The company Smart City Loop focuses on the process prior to the last mile. The startup wants to place tubes in the ground in which pallets can be transported. These pallets enter tunnels at distribution centres on the outskirts of the city and resurface at micro-hubs in the city centre. From there, electric vehicles take care of the last mile.
Feasibility of underground transport
Real estate developer Four Parx has summoned Smart City Loop to study how feasible this model is in Hamburg in the near future. Initially, it is looking at a connection between Wilhemsburg and the Altona district, which is five kilometres away. Pipes between these two locations could eliminate about a thousand transport movements daily, the researchers estimate.
Smart City Loop says it can build the system relatively quickly, should the study results be positive. The results will be published in the third quarter of this year.
