Emadolobheni amakhulu, amabhayisikili asebenzisa amandla kagesi nama-pedal ukuthwala imithwalo esindayo kancane kancane athatha indawo yamaloli okuthutha avamile.
Njalo ngoLwesibili, indoda esogwini egibele ibhayisikili eliyinqaba elinamasondo amathathu ima egcekeni ngaphandle kwesitolo se-ayisikhilimu iKate ePortland, e-Oregon, ukuze ithole izimpahla ezintsha.
Wafaka amabhokisi angu-30 e-ayisikhilimu kaKate yezimpahla—i-vegan ayisikhilimu enama-waffle cones kanye ne-marionberry cobbler—esikhwameni sefriji, wayifaka kanye nezinye izimpahla ebhokisini lensimbi elifakwe ngemuva kwesihlalo. Ethwele impahla efika kumakhilogremu angu-120, washayela waya enyakatho-mpumalanga yeSandy Boulevard.
Ukunyakaza ngakunye kwe-pedal kuthuthukiswa yinjini kagesi engathuli efihliwe ku-chassis. Naphezu kokuqondisa imoto yebhizinisi engamamitha angu-1.5 ububanzi, wayehamba ngomzila webhayisikili.
Ngemva kwekhilomitha nesigamu, ibhayisikili elinamasondo amathathu lafika e-B-line Urban Delivery warehouse. Le nkampani itholakala enkabeni yedolobha, izinyathelo ezimbalwa nje ukusuka eMfuleni iWillamette. Uthulula izimpahla ezindaweni zokugcina ezincane neziphakathi kunezindawo zokugcina ezinkulu ezivame ukuthwala amaphakheji.
Ingxenye ngayinye yalesi simo ihlukile kunezindlela eziningi zokulethwa kwezimoto ezisheshayo namuhla. Kulula ukucabanga ngensizakalo ye-B-line njengenye into engavamile ePortland. Kodwa amaphrojekthi afanayo ayanda ezinhloko-dolobha zaseYurophu njengeParis neBerlin. Bekusemthethweni eChicago; sekwamukelwe eNew York City, lapho i-Amazon.com Inc. inamabhayisikili kagesi angu-200 anjalo okulethwa.
UKatelyn Williams, umnikazi we-ayisikhilimu, uthe: “Kuhlala kusiza ukungabi neloli elikhulu likadizili.”
Lokhu kuyimfuneko yokuletha umhlaba wamabhayisikili empahla kagesi noma amabhayisikili amathathu kagesi asathuthuka. Kuyiqembu lamabhayisikili asebenzisa ama-pedal kagesi asethandwa kakhulu ngesikhathi sobhubhane. Abasekeli bathi izimoto ezincane zikagesi zingahamba ibanga elifushane futhi zilethe izimpahla ngokushesha ezindaweni ezinabantu abaningi edolobheni, kuyilapho kunciphisa ukuminyana, umsindo kanye nokungcola okubangelwa amaloli e-forklift.
Kodwa-ke, lomnotho awukakafakazelwa emigwaqweni yase-United States ethanda izimoto. Le ndlela idinga ukucatshangelwa kabusha ukuthi izimpahla zingena kanjani edolobheni. Uhlobo olusha lwezilwane zakwamanye amazwe luzobangela ingxabano ezindaweni ezigcwele izimoto, abagibeli bamabhayisikili kanye nabahamba ngezinyawo.
Amabhayisikili empahla kagesi ayisisombululo esingenzeka kwenye yezinkinga ezinzima kakhulu kwezokuthutha. Uzithola kanjani izimpahla ngesixhumanisi sokugcina esivela enqolobaneni kuya emnyango?
Inkinga iwukuthi nakuba isifiso sokuletha izinto sibonakala singenamkhawulo, isikhala esiseceleni komgwaqo asinamkhawulo.
Izakhamuzi zasedolobheni sezijwayelene kakade namaveni nama-tram apakiwe (napakishwe kabusha) anezibani eziyingozi ezikhanyayo. Kwabadlulayo, lokhu kusho ukuminyana kwezimoto kanye nokungcoliswa komoya. Kwabathumeli, lokhu kusho izindleko zokulethwa eziphakeme kanye nezikhathi zokulethwa ezihamba kancane. Ngo-Okthoba, abacwaningi e-University of Washington bathole ukuthi amaloli okulethwa achitha u-28% wesikhathi sawo sokulethwa efuna izindawo zokupaka.
UMary Catherine Snyder, umeluleki wezokupaka ochwepheshe weDolobha laseSeattle, waphawula: “Isidingo semingcele siphezulu kakhulu kunalokho esikudingayo ngempela. Idolobha laseSeattle lazama amabhayisikili amathathu kagesi ne-UPS Inc. ngonyaka odlule.
Ubhubhane lwe-COVID-19 luye lwandisa kakhulu isiphithiphithi. Ngesikhathi sokuvalelwa, izimboni zezinsizakalo ezifana ne-UPS ne-Amazon zibhekane nokuphakama okukhulu. Ihhovisi lingase libe lingenalutho, kodwa umgwaqo osedolobheni uvalwe kabusha ngabasebenzi bokuletha impahla abasebenzise izinsizakalo ze-Grubhub Inc. kanye ne-DoorDash Inc. ukuthutha ukudla kusuka endaweni yokudlela kuya ekhaya.
Ukuhlolwa kuyaqhubeka. Ezinye izinkampani zezokuthutha zihlola ukuthi ikhasimende lingakwazi yini ukukhokhela ukugwema umnyango, esikhundleni salokho zifake amaphakheji ezikhabetheni, noma esimweni se-Amazon, ebhuthini yemoto. Ama-drone angenzeka ngisho, yize engase abize kakhulu ngaphandle kokuthutha izinto ezilula, ezinenani eliphezulu njengemithi.
Abasekeli bathi amabhayisikili amancane, aguquguqukayo anama-tricycle ashesha kunamaloli futhi akhiqiza ukukhishwa okuncane kokushisa. Alula ukuwalawula uma usemotweni, futhi angapakwa endaweni encane noma ngisho nasendleleni yokuhamba ngezinyawo.
Ngokusho kocwaningo ngamabhayisikili empahla kagesi asetshenziswa eNyuvesi yaseToronto ngonyaka odlule, ukushintsha amaloli okulethwa avamile ngamabhayisikili empahla kagesi kunganciphisa ukukhishwa kwekhabhoni ngamathani ayi-1.9 ngonyaka - yize amabhayisikili amaningi empahla kagesi namaloli okulethwa avamile evame ukudingeka.
I-CEO ye-B-line kanye nomsunguli uFranklin Jones (uFranklin Jones) uthe kwi-webinar yakamuva ukuthi uma umphakathi unzima, izindleko zokuhamba ngamabhayisikili ziyancipha.
Ukuze amabhayisikili empahla kagesi achume, kufanele kwenziwe ushintsho olubalulekile: izindawo zokugcina impahla ezincane zendawo. Izinkampani eziningi zezokuthutha zibeka izindawo zazo zokugcina impahla ezinkulu emaphethelweni edolobha. Kodwa-ke, ngenxa yokuthi ibanga lamabhayisikili lifushane kakhulu, zidinga izindawo eziseduze. Zibizwa ngokuthi ama-mini hubs.
Le ndawo encane ebizwa ngokuthi ihhotela lokuthutha impahla isivele isetshenziswa eParis. Kulezi zindawo, inkampani entsha ebizwa ngokuthi iReef Technology iwine uxhaso lwemali oluyizigidi ezingama-$700 lwesikhungo sayo endaweni yokupaka izimoto edolobheni ngenyanga edlule ukuze ifake phakathi ukulethwa kwezimpahla okuhamba ibanga elide.
Ngokusho kweBloomberg News, i-Amazon iphinde yasungula izikhungo ezincane zokusabalalisa eziyi-1,000 kulo lonke elase-United States.
USam Starr, umeluleki ozimele wezokuthutha ezisimeme eCanada, uthe ukuze kusetshenziswe amabhayisikili ezimpahla, la masondo amancane kudingeka ahlakazeke ngaphakathi kwebanga elingamakhilomitha amabili kuya kwayisithupha, kuye ngokuthi idolobha linabantu abangakanani.
E-United States, kuze kube manje, imiphumela ye-e-freight ayicaci. Ngonyaka odlule, i-UPS yathola esivivinyweni se-e-cargo tricycle eSeattle ukuthi ibhayisikili liletha amaphakheji ambalwa kakhulu ngehora kunamaloli avamile emphakathini omatasa waseSeattle.
Ucwaningo lukholelwa ukuthi ukuhlolwa okuhlala inyanga eyodwa kuphela kungase kube kufushane kakhulu ukuthi kuthunyelwe amabhayisikili. Kodwa futhi luveze ukuthi inzuzo yamabhayisikili—ancane—nayo iwubuthakathaka.
Ucwaningo luthi: “Amabhayisikili kagesi athwala impahla angase angasebenzi kahle njengamaloli.” Umthamo wawo omncane wemithwalo usho ukuthi anganciphisa ukulethwa njalo lapho evakashela, futhi kufanele alayishe kabusha kaningi.”
EDolobheni laseNew York, usomabhizinisi ogama lakhe linguGregg Zuman, umsunguli we-Revolutionary Rickshaw, ubelokhu ezama ukuletha amabhayisikili kagesi empahla kubantu abaningi eminyakeni eyi-15 edlule. Usasebenza kanzima.
Umqondo wokuqala kaZuman kwakuwukudala iqoqo lamabhayisikili amathathu kagesi ngo-2005. Lokho akufani nehholo lamatekisi edolobheni. Ngo-2007, uMnyango Wezimoto wanquma ukuthi amabhayisikili ezentengiselwano angaqhutshwa ngabantu kuphela, okusho ukuthi ngeke aqhutshwe ngama-motor kagesi. I-rickshaw eguqukayo yamiswa iminyaka engaphezu kweyishumi.
Ngonyaka odlule kwaba yithuba lokuqeda lesi simo esibucayi. Abantu baseNew York, njengezakhamuzi zasemadolobheni emhlabeni wonke, bathanda ama-scooter asezitaladini asebenza ngogesi kanye namabhayisikili ahlanganyelwe asetshenziswa ngogesi.
NgoDisemba, iNew York City yagunyaza ukuqulwa kwamabhayisekili ezimpahla zikagesi eManhattan yizinkampani ezinkulu zezokuthutha ezifana ne-UPS, i-Amazon kanye ne-DHL. Ngesikhathi esifanayo, abahlinzeki bezinsizakalo zokuhamba njenge-Bird, i-Uber kanye ne-Lime babheke imakethe enkulu kunazo zonke ezweni futhi banxenxa isishayamthetho sesifundazwe ukuba sivumele ama-scooter namabhayisikili kagesi ukuba asebenze ngokusemthethweni. NgoJanuwari, uMbusi u-Andrew Cuomo (D) wahoxa ekuphikisaneni kwakhe wabe eseshaya umthethosivivinywa.
UZuman uthe: “Lokhu kusenza sivume.” Uveze ukuthi cishe wonke amabhayisikili kagesi athwala impahla emakethe okungenani angamasentimitha angu-48 ububanzi.
Umthetho kahulumeni awusho lutho ngendaba yamabhayisikili kagesi athwala impahla. Emadolobheni nasezifundazweni, uma kunemithetho, ihluke kakhulu.
Ngo-Okthoba, iChicago yaba ngelinye lamadolobha okuqala ukubhalisa imithetho. Amakhansela edolobha avumile imithetho evumela amaloli kagesi ukushayela emizileni yamabhayisikili. Anesivinini esiphezulu esingu-15 mph kanye nobubanzi obungamamitha angu-4. Umshayeli udinga iphasi lebhayisikili futhi ibhayisikili kumele lipakwe endaweni yokupaka evamile.
Ezinyangeni ezingu-18 ezedlule, inkampani enkulu yezohwebo kanye nezokuthutha ithe ithumele amabhayisikili kagesi angaba ngu-200 eManhattan naseBrooklyn, futhi ihlose ukuthuthukisa uhlelo kakhulu. Ezinye izinkampani zokuthutha ezifana ne-DHL kanye ne-FedEx Corp. nazo zinabashayeli bezindiza ze-e-cargo, kodwa azinkulu njenge-Amazon.
UZuman uthe, “Eminyakeni embalwa ezayo, i-Amazon izothuthuka ngokushesha kule makethe.” “Ivele ikhuphuke ngokushesha phambi kwawo wonke umuntu.”
Imodeli yebhizinisi le-Amazon iphambene ne-B-line yasePortland. Ayithuthwa kusuka kumhlinzeki kuya esitolo, kodwa kusuka esitolo kuya kumakhasimende. I-Whole Foods Market Inc., isitolo esikhulu se-organic esiphethwe yi-Amazon, iletha ukudla endaweni yaseBrooklyn eManhattan naseWilliamsburg.
Ngaphezu kwalokho, ukwakheka kwezimoto zayo zikagesi nakho kuhluke ngokuphelele, okubonisa ukuthi imboni isebenza kahle kangakanani kulesi sigaba esincane.
Izimoto ze-Amazon akuzona amabhayisikili anamasondo amathathu. Leli ibhayisikili likagesi elivamile. Ungadonsa i-trailer, uyikhulule, bese ungena endaweni yokwamukela izivakashi yesakhiwo. (UZuman uyibiza ngokuthi “i-wheelbarrow yabacebile”.) Cishe wonke amabhayisikili kagesi athwala impahla akhiqizwa eYurophu. Kwamanye amazwe, amabhayisikili kagesi asetshenziswa njengezihlalo zabantwana noma izithwali zokudla.
Umklamo ukhona yonke indawo. Abanye abantu benza umgibeli ahlale phansi, kanti abanye bancika. Abanye babeka ibhokisi lemithwalo ngemuva, abanye babeka ibhokisi ngaphambili. Abanye basendaweni evulekile, kanti abanye bagoqa umshayeli ngegobolondo lepulasitiki elibonakalayo ukuze kuvinjelwe imvula.
UJones, umsunguli wePortland, uthe idolobha lasePortland alidingi ilayisensi ye-B-line futhi akudingeki likhokhe noma yiziphi izimali. Ngaphezu kwalokho, umthetho wase-Oregon uvumela amabhayisikili ukuba abe nezici zosizo lwamandla ezinamandla - kufika ku-1,000 watts - ukuze ibhayisikili libe nesivinini esihambisana nokuhamba kwethrafikhi futhi libe nekhono lokuvumela noma ubani ukukhuphuka intaba.
Uthe: “Ngaphandle kwalokhu, besingeke sikwazi ukuqasha abagibeli abahlukahlukene, futhi besingeke sibe nesikhathi sokulethwa esiqhubekayo esisibonile.”
Umugqa B nawo unamakhasimende. Lena yindlela yokulethwa kwemikhiqizo yasendaweni ye-New Seasons Market, okuwuchungechunge lwesifunda lwezitolo zokudla eziyi-18 eziphilayo. UCarlee Dempsey, uMphathi Wezokuthengwa Kwezimpahla ze-New Seasons, uthe lolu hlelo lwaqala eminyakeni emihlanu edlule, okwenza i-B-line ibe ngumxhumanisi wezokuthutha phakathi kwabahlinzeki bezitolo zokudla bendawo abayi-120.
I-New Seasons inikeza abahlinzeki inzuzo eyengeziwe: yenza u-30% wemali abayikweletayo yomugqa B. Lokhu kubasiza ukuba bagweme abasabalalisi bezitolo zokudla abavamile abanezindleko eziphezulu.
Omunye umhlinzeki onjalo ngu-Adam Berger, umnikazi wePortland Company Rollenti Pasta. Ngaphambi kokuqala ukusebenzisa i-B-line, udinga ukuthumela ku-New Seasons Markets ne-Scion xB yakhe encane usuku lonke.
Uthe: “Bekuwunya nje.” “Ukusatshalaliswa kwemayela lokugcina yikho okusibulala sonke, kungakhathaliseki ukuthi kuyizimpahla ezomile, abalimi noma abanye.”
Manje, wanikeza ibhokisi le-pasta kumshini wokuthutha we-B-line wabe esenyathela kulo waya endaweni yokugcina impahla eqhele ngamakhilomitha ayi-9. Bese zithuthwa ngamaloli avamile ziye ezitolo ezahlukahlukene.
Uthe: “Ngivela ePortland, ngakho konke lokhu kuyingxenye yendaba. Ngingumuntu wendawo, ngingumdwebi wezinto zezandla. Ngikhiqiza amaqoqo amancane. Ngifuna ukuletha amabhayisikili ukuze asebenze kahle emsebenzini wami.” “Kuhle kakhulu.”
Amarobhothi okulethwa kanye nezimoto zikagesi. Umthombo wesithombe: I-Starship Technologies (irobhothi lokulethwa) / I-Ayro (imoto enezinhloso eziningi)
Isithombe siseduze kwemishini yokulethwa yomuntu siqu ye-Starship Technologies kanye nemoto kagesi i-Ayro Club Car 411. I-Starship Technologies (irobhothi lokulethwa) / i-Ayro (imoto enemisebenzi eminingi)
Osomabhizinisi abaningana baqondisa i-micro-ray kumathuluzi okulethwa ajwayelekile. I-Arcimoto Inc., umkhiqizi wezimoto zikagesi ezinamasondo amathathu e-Oregon, yamukela ama-oda enguqulo yemayela lokugcina ye-Deliverator. Omunye umuntu ongenela lo mcimbi yi-Ayro Inc., umkhiqizi weloli elincane likagesi eTexas elinesivinini esiphezulu esingu-25 mph. Cishe ngobukhulu benqola yegalofu, izimoto zayo zithutha kakhulu amalineni nokudla ezindaweni ezizolile zethrafikhi njengezindawo zokungcebeleka kanye namakhampasi eyunivesithi.
Kodwa i-CEO uRod Keller uthe inkampani manje isithuthukisa uhlobo olungahanjiswa emgwaqweni, olunendawo yokugcina ukudla komuntu ngamunye. Ikhasimende liyinkampani yokudlela efana neChipotle Mexican Grill Inc. noma iPanera Bread Co., futhi bazama ukuletha izimpahla emnyango wekhasimende ngaphandle kokukhokha imali ekhokhiswa yinkampani yokulethwa kokudla manje.
Ngakolunye uhlangothi kukhona amarobhothi amancane. I-Starship Technologies eseSan Francisco ithuthukisa ngokushesha imakethe yayo yezimoto ezihamba emgwaqweni ezinamasondo ayisithupha, engadluli ama-cooler kabhiya. Angahamba ibanga elingamamayela angu-4 futhi afanelekela ukuhamba ngezinyawo.
Njenge-Ayro, yaqala ekhempasini kodwa iyanda. Le nkampani ithe kuwebhusayithi yayo: “Ngokusebenzisana nezitolo nezindawo zokudlela, senza ukulethwa kwezimpahla endaweni kube lula, kuhlakaniphe futhi kungabizi kakhulu.”
Zonke lezi zimoto zinezinjini zikagesi, ezinezinzuzo ezilandelayo: zihlanzekile, zithule futhi kulula ukuzishaja. Kodwa emehlweni abahleli bedolobha, ingxenye "yemoto" isiqalile ukufiphaza imingcele ebilokhu ihlukanisa izimoto namabhayisikili.
“Ushintshe nini kusukela ebhayisikilini waya emotweni?” kubuza usomabhizinisi waseNew York uZuman. “Lona omunye wemingcele engacacile okufanele sibhekane nayo.”
Enye yezindawo lapho amadolobha aseMelika angase aqale ukucabanga ngendlela yokulawula ukuthunyelwa kwezimpahla nge-elekthronikhi ikhilomitha-skwele eSanta Monica, eCalifornia.
Lo mcimbi ungoweMidlalo Yama-Olimpiki yaseLos Angeles ka-2028 ezayo. Inhlangano yesifunda inethemba lokunciphisa ukukhishwa kwamapayipi okukhipha umoya ezindaweni zasemadolobheni ngekota ngaleso sikhathi, okuhlanganisa nomgomo onesibindi wokuguqula amaloli okuletha aphakathi nendawo abe amaloli kagesi angu-60%. NgoJuni walo nyaka, iSanta Monica iwine isibonelelo sika-$350,000 sokudala indawo yokuqala yokulethwa komoya ongenawo umoya ezweni.
ISanta Monica ayikwazi ukuzikhulula kuphela, kodwa futhi igcina nemingcele eyi-10 kuya kwengama-20, futhi yizo kuphela (nezinye izimoto zikagesi) ezingapaka le mingcele. Ziyizindawo zokuqala zokupaka izimoto ze-e-cargo ezinikezelwe ezweni. Ikhamera izolandelela ukuthi le ndawo isetshenziswa kanjani.
“Lokhu ukuhlola kwangempela. Lona umshayeli wangempela,” kusho uFrancis Stefan, ophethe lo msebenzi njengesikhulu esiphezulu sezokuhamba eSanta Monica.
Indawo yedolobha engenawo ugesi enyakatho yeLos Angeles ihlanganisa indawo yedolobha kanye neThird Street Promenade, enye yezindawo zokuthenga ezimatasa kakhulu eNingizimu yeCalifornia.
“Ukukhetha indlela yomgwaqo kuyinto ebaluleke kakhulu,” kusho uMatt Peterson, usihlalo we-Transportation Electrification Cooperation Organisation eyakhetha iSanta Monica. “Unabahlanganyeli abaningi endaweni yokudla, endaweni yokulethwa, endaweni [yebhizinisi nebhizinisi].”
Lo msebenzi ngeke uqale ezinye izinyanga eziyisithupha, kodwa ochwepheshe bathi izingxabano phakathi kwamabhayisikili kagesi athwala impahla kanye neminye imizila yamabhayisikili azinakugwenywa.
ULisa Nisenson, uchwepheshe wokuhamba kwa-WGI, inkampani yokuklama ingqalasizinda yomphakathi, uthe: “Kungazelelwe, kwaba neqembu labantu ababezogibela, abagibeli kanye nosomabhizinisi.” “Kwaqala ukuminyana.”
Umeluleki wezimpahla uStarr uthe ngenxa yokuthi incane indawo yayo, imikhumbi yezimpahla kagesi ingapakwa eceleni kwendlela, ikakhulukazi “endaweni yefenisha”, enabantu abathumela amabhokisi eposi, izindawo zokuthengisa amaphephandaba, izigxobo zezibani kanye nezihlahla.
Kodwa kuleyo ndawo encane, amabhayisikili empahla kagesi ahamba ngezimoto ezisebenzisa kabi amalungelo: ama-scooter kagesi adumile ngokuvimbela ukugeleza kwabantu emadolobheni amaningi.
U-Ethan Bergson, okhulumela uMnyango Wezokuthutha waseSeattle, uthe: “Kuyinselele ukuqinisekisa ukuthi abantu bapaka ngendlela efanele ukuze bangadali izithiyo kubantu abakhubazekile endleleni.”
UNissensen uthe uma izimoto ezincane, ezisheshayo zokuthutha zingahambisana nalesi simo, khona-ke amadolobha kungadingeka adale isethi eyodwa esikhundleni salokho akubiza ngokuthi “imigwaqo ephathwayo”, okungukuthi, amasethi amabili abantu abavamile kanye nelinye lamabhizinisi alula.
Kukhona nethuba kwenye ingxenye yendawo ye-asphalt eye yashiywa emashumini eminyaka amuva nje: imihubhe.
“Uqala ukucabanga ngokubuyela esikhathini esizayo, ukuthatha eminye imisebenzi yezentengiselwano emgwaqweni omkhulu uye ngaphakathi, lapho kungase kungabi khona omunye ngaphandle kwabathuthi bakadoti okunengqondo?” kubuza uNisensen.
Eqinisweni, ikusasa lokulethwa kwamandla amancane lingase libuyele emuva esikhathini esidlule. Amaloli amaningi edizili angahlelekile, aphefumulayo amabhayisikili kagesi afuna ukuwashintsha aphethwe futhi aqhutshwa yi-UPS, inkampani eyasungulwa ngo-1907.