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Rethinking Urban Logistics with Micro Vehicles : A Complex Adaptive Systems Approach

Waidringer, Jonas and Nilsson, Fredrik LU (2026) In Papers in Innovation Studies
Abstract (Swedish)
Urban freight distribution remains a critical source of congestion, emissions, and energy waste. Electrification of conventional vans fails to address systemic inefficiencies linked to vehicle size, weight, emissions and energy demands. This paper proposes a shift toward micro vehicles for urban deliveries as a more sustainable and adaptive solution, analysed through a Complex Adaptive Systems (CAS) framework. Drawing on a two-year empirical study of two demonstration projects in Stockholm and Gothenburg in Sweden, encompassing 60 electric mopeds, ten battery swap stations, over 25,000 swap cycles, and 2.2 million vehicle-kilometres, we demonstrate that micro vehicles combined with micro-hubs can replace 30–50% of van-based deliveries... (More)
Urban freight distribution remains a critical source of congestion, emissions, and energy waste. Electrification of conventional vans fails to address systemic inefficiencies linked to vehicle size, weight, emissions and energy demands. This paper proposes a shift toward micro vehicles for urban deliveries as a more sustainable and adaptive solution, analysed through a Complex Adaptive Systems (CAS) framework. Drawing on a two-year empirical study of two demonstration projects in Stockholm and Gothenburg in Sweden, encompassing 60 electric mopeds, ten battery swap stations, over 25,000 swap cycles, and 2.2 million vehicle-kilometres, we demonstrate that micro vehicles combined with micro-hubs can replace 30–50% of van-based deliveries while reducing CO₂ emissions by 80–90% and particulate matter by 95%. The CAS lens reveals emergent properties including self-organizing routing patterns, adaptive seasonal responses, and co-evolutionary dynamics between technology dissemination, business models, and policy. Findings support policy frameworks that enable decentralized, lightweight logistics infrastructure in urban environments. (Less)
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author
and
organization
publishing date
type
Working paper/Preprint
publication status
unpublished
subject
keywords
Urban logistics, electrification, micro mobility, last-mile delivery, sustainable freight
in
Papers in Innovation Studies
publisher
CIRCLE, Lund University
language
English
LU publication?
yes
id
12c1e10d-7e90-4491-903d-589055e9cfae
date added to LUP
2026-04-30 10:14:24
date last changed
2026-04-30 13:35:31
@misc{12c1e10d-7e90-4491-903d-589055e9cfae,
  abstract     = {{Urban freight distribution remains a critical source of congestion, emissions, and energy waste. Electrification of conventional vans fails to address systemic inefficiencies linked to vehicle size, weight, emissions and energy demands. This paper proposes a shift toward micro vehicles for urban deliveries as a more sustainable and adaptive solution, analysed through a Complex Adaptive Systems (CAS) framework. Drawing on a two-year empirical study of two demonstration projects in Stockholm and Gothenburg in Sweden, encompassing 60 electric mopeds, ten battery swap stations, over 25,000 swap cycles, and 2.2 million vehicle-kilometres, we demonstrate that micro vehicles combined with micro-hubs can replace 30–50% of van-based deliveries while reducing CO₂ emissions by 80–90% and particulate matter by 95%. The CAS lens reveals emergent properties including self-organizing routing patterns, adaptive seasonal responses, and co-evolutionary dynamics between technology dissemination, business models, and policy. Findings support policy frameworks that enable decentralized, lightweight logistics infrastructure in urban environments.}},
  author       = {{Waidringer, Jonas and Nilsson, Fredrik}},
  keywords     = {{Urban logistics; electrification; micro mobility; last-mile delivery; sustainable freight}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  note         = {{Working Paper}},
  publisher    = {{CIRCLE, Lund University}},
  series       = {{Papers in Innovation Studies}},
  title        = {{Rethinking Urban Logistics with Micro Vehicles : A Complex Adaptive Systems Approach}},
  year         = {{2026}},
}