(Inside Science) -- In 2018, nearly a quarter of surveyed Americans said they shopped online at least once a month, a fraction that has likely increased since the start of the pandemic. But as the demand for online goods has grown, so, too, has the need to deliver all these purchased items. Making these deliveries environmentally friendly, cost-effective, and accessible presents a big challenge.
By 2030, delivery vehicles are expected to increase by 36% over 2019 numbers across the world's 100 most populated cities, resulting in a corresponding rise in greenhouse gas emissions. Increases in traffic congestion and decreases in parking availability could also contribute to the amount of pollution each vehicle produces. In addition, when there's less parking, people tend to park illegally, idle in disabled spaces or otherwise disrupt access to sidewalks and public spaces.
To solve these problems -- and reduce labor costs -- companies are experimenting ...
