Ryde partners with Port to improve last-mile deliveries in London

Ryde, a delivery service company providing businesses with the technology, people, and vehicles to create integrated logistics solutions, has announced a pilot program with Port, a pioneering e-mobility startup that offers the industry-first, comprehensive e-mobility solution to the last-mile delivery industry.

Port provides fleets of light electric vehicles that are locked and charged in dedicated ports, installed in hubs across inner-city parkings. The vehicles are offered on a simple subscription in a full e-mobility package, which includes parking, charging, maintenance, and software. The wide range of electric vehicles, including bikes, mopeds, cargo bikes and scooters can cover up to 100 km on a single charge. They are easily accessible to the riders who can simply unlock an electric vehicle in the app, use it for deliveries, and return it back to the hub upon finishing work.

For the duration of the pilot, Ryde has rented all e-vehicles from the Port hub in Q-Park Leicester Square parking in London. Using Port’s software platform, Ryde will grant free access to these vehicles to a selected group of Ryde couriers. Convenient location of the hub makes it easily accessible by public transport, including the Tube, buses, as well as trains terminating at the nearby Charing Cross station. This allows couriers living all around Greater London to receive jobs in the busy West End area, without the hassle of bringing their own vehicle. The pilot program is open for a limited group of couriers, selected on a basis of their productivity and performance.

“As we’re building a same-day delivery business that is people and planet friendly, we are working with an unwavering dedication to support our riders, as their higher engagement results in overall better experiences for end customers. We are excited to partner with Port, as it provides the industry-first, end-to-end e-mobility solution that helps us reduce carbon footprint, improve courier convenience and increase overall efficiency. As a rider-first business, equipping our riders with efficient electric vehicles is another step to further strengthen our leading offering for businesses, riders and residents of the cities“, says Duncan Mitchell, Co-Founder and CEO of Ryde.

"Our mission is to enhance last-mile logistics and the last-mile delivery sector to reach net zero emissions and to fully capitalize on the benefits of light electric vehicles. We believe that by using the existing parking infrastructure and removing the burden of fleet management and vehicle maintenance, we can add significant value to the whole last-mile ecosystem. That includes not just the delivery companies and couriers, but most of all, residents, and communities within cities. We are thrilled to partner with Ryde to help them lead the shift in the industry”, says Kamil Suda, founder and CEO of Port.

Ryde co-founders Duncan Mitchell and Tom Nimmo, both veterans in the gig-economy tech, launched Ryde with a mission to improve the working lives of delivery riders and drivers. Following the boom in deliveries spurred by the pandemic, Mitchell and Nimmo saw the opportunity to make measurable improvements for riders through partnerships, support, and superior technology to optimize work. Their unique shift-based approach to on-demand delivery helps their customers reduce costs and improve overall productivity. Riders also gain the advantage of shift-based work, with greater job security and better pay than traditional on-demand jobs.

The dark hub in Q-Park Leicester Square follows two years of R&D and successful trials by Port. At the heart of the system is dedicated fleet management software and the world’s first, patented universal docking station that can lock and charge any small electric vehicle. The wide range of EVs covers all the needs of last-mile logistics, including deliverers of food, parcels and groceries. Port is taking its first steps to expand across Europe, with hubs opening in new cities in the upcoming weeks.

About Port

Port is a pioneering e-mobility startup that reinvents delivery service with fully-fledged e-mobility packages. It partners with prime inner-city, off-street parkings to create mobility hubs – fleets of small electric vehicles, locked and charged in dedicated ports. The wide range of electric vehicles, including bikes, mopeds, cargo bikes and scooters, are offered on a simple subscription to last-mile industry and are easily accessible to the riders, who can simply unlock them in the app and start deliveries using the EV. Visit Port.app to learn more about how Port increases the efficiency of last-mile deliveries and improves experience of the couriers and customers.

About Ryde

Ryde provides an integrated delivery solution for everyone from the high street retailer to the eCommerce giant. Built on the basis of high-quality technology, Ryde supports businesses in establishing a custom fleet of vehicles and a curated team of riders and drivers, all to supercharge their delivery management. Visit Ryde.team to learn more about how Ryde is transforming last-mile logistics for good.