Originally Posted by CliffordK

I doubt they are truly selling a $30K van for $10K. Although, they may get deep discounts from the manufacturer too.

Having people buy-in both raises capital and forces them to have some stake in the game.

Now, if you drive that van for 10 years and put 300,000 miles on it, they may go ahead and just give it to you for free at the end of the period, or even buy you a new one.

Nonetheless, say one could make one's delivery E-Bike for $2500. that would mean one could buy about 10 to 15 of those E-Bikes for the full cost of one van.

Now, depreciating that $30K van over 10 years, the annual capital cost of the van isn't that much compared to labor, insurance, fuel, repairs, and other expenses. Still, one could get a lot of E-Bikes on the road for the cost of a few vans.

If one could get a delivery density of one delivery per mile. At 20 MPH (assisted), then that is about 3 minutes travel time, plus say 2 minutes for the delivery, or about 5 minute deliveries. That comes up to about 12 deliveries an hour, or about 100 deliveries in 8 hours.

Now, the question is how much they are willing to pay for those deliveries. $1 per delivery would be cheap. $2 per delivery and one could do reasonably well.

I suppose some will depend on the logistics. Can one carry those 100 packages in the cargo bike? How much reloading time?

Also, the powered van won't make that mile in zero time. In an urban setting, the van may only make it at 30 MPH... or 2 minutes travel time + 2 minutes delivery time, or about 4 minutes per package and 15 packages an hour and 120 per day.

So, if the difference is only 20 or 25 packages difference, what about the other expenses. Fuel, insurance, capital costs, etc.

Your biggest difference will likely be in carrying big, heavy, and bulky items. So, the bike might get bogged down with 5 of the 50" big screen TVs, while the van would be able to carry a few more of them. Nonetheless, that last mile delivery charge on the big screen TVs will be significantly higher. $10 to $20? Even if it says "Free Delivery", that delivery cost is being factored into the sales price somewhere. Thus, the bike might deliver 10 big screen TVs in 2 loads for the same amount as delivering 100 small books and trinkets.

The part-time job in a small town might also make a unique model. So, one has a big truck with say a fixed route of 400 miles a day, dropping bike containers in small towns along the way, and then the bike courier would deliver say 25 packages in an hour or two, and earn an extra $50 a day. It could well be beneficial to everyone.

Let's see, if a bike container was 3 1/2 feet wide, 4 feet tall, and 5 feet long, then a 40' truck should be able to pack in about 32 containers and service 30+ small towns in a day. Just have to make sure everything runs quickly and smoothly.