Electric Vehicles for the Last Mile

Sustainable Development in Metropolises

Abstract

This work focuses on studying electric vehicles in comparison to combustion vehicles, with an emphasis on the last mile. Faced with the global climate emergency, reducing CO² emissions into the atmosphere has become everyone's commitment and, from the point of view of logistics, it is necessary to implement sustainable actions in their processes. The proposal is to analyse the latest on the use of electric vehicles for the last mile in metropolises and what the benefits and main challenges are for universalizing their use. The methodology chosen is based on exploratory bibliographical research. According to the data collected, electric vehicles have a positive impact on the last mile in terms of financial savings (maintenance of parts and energy recharging) and reducing the emission of polluting gases. The main challenges currently presented are the incipient presence of recharging stations, the high cost of changing the battery and the lack of standardization of battery models, which makes it difficult to dispose of or reuse them; in addition, there are questions about the fact that the majority of Brazil's energy comes from hydroelectric power stations, which in periods of rain shortage already have to ration their use due to the low level of water in the reservoirs. In this sense, it is understood that more studies and investments in infrastructure in cities are needed so that electric vehicles can contribute more effectively to the last mile and benefit the logistics sector.