The Zero-Emission Delivery Hub project's main goal is to decarbonize last-mile delivery in Montréal's densely populated neighborhoods. Last-mile delivery — the final leg of getting your package to your door — is one of the most polluting steps in the entire delivery chain. By introducing a local drop-off point, or "zero-emission delivery hub," for cleaner last-mile delivery in your neighborhood, we help:
Reduce greenhouse gas emissions
Cut down on freight truck traffic in your neighborhood
Ease road congestion
Improve safety for pedestrians and cyclists, while making deliveries easier for drivers
Increase the share of deliveries made by zero-emission vehicles
To learn more, check out the FAQ below.
The first mini-hub is located at 6352 Rue Saint-André:
The second mini-hub is located at 1169 Rue Hickson:
FAQ
What is a zero-emission delivery hub?
A zero-emission delivery hub — also called a mini urban distribution centre, housed in a shipping container — is a neighborhood drop-off point positioned between the courier's suburban sorting facility and the final recipient. Packages headed for several parts of your neighborhood are consolidated onto a single truck from the sorting facility to the hub. From there, they're distributed along short delivery routes using smaller, zero-emission vehicles better suited to city streets — cutting out multiple medium- and heavy-duty truck trips between the sorting facility and your door.
What is urban delivery, also known as last-mile delivery?
Urban delivery covers all goods transport operations within city limits. It's commonly known as the "last mile" of the supply chain — the final leg before a product reaches the end consumer. This space is already being reinvented, with new parcel transfer points popping up in the densest boroughs. Through this project, we're looking to keep innovating and make urban delivery greener.
Why does cargo-bike delivery make sense for the last mile in my neighborhood?
A cargo bike can deliver more packages than a truck in the same amount of time. It can use bike lanes to bypass congestion and park far more easily without blocking traffic — something a truck simply can't do. Cargo-bike delivery cuts GHG emissions and eases road congestion in your neighborhood.
Why was my borough chosen for this project?
Your borough has high delivery density and an innovative approach to moving people and goods, which helps maximize the project's efficiency and makes it easier to properly evaluate its integration and impact. Bringing this project to your borough also supports its own sustainable mobility goals.
How long will this project run?
The zero-emission delivery hub project will run for two years, so it can operate through two winters — giving us a broader dataset for more reliable conclusions. Rosemont–La Petite-Patrie was the first borough to host the project, and Verdun now has its own hub as well.
Will this project hurt local businesses?
This project handles last-mile delivery for select courier companies you already do business with regularly. We help these companies — local or international — deliver carbon-neutral. We don't work with major online retail giants, so this project won't negatively affect local businesses.
Why focus this project only on the last mile of delivery?
The last mile — also called urban delivery — is the most polluting and disruptive stretch of any delivery for residents. The truck winds through your neighborhood streets, stops wherever it can, idles its engine, drops off the package, and repeats the process all day long.
By using a zero-emission vehicle for that last leg, we cut GHG emissions in your neighborhood and help make it safer, with fewer trucks and less traffic.
Decarbonizing the last mile makes particular sense because bikes are especially well-suited to this segment of the supply chain. They're also less affected by rough road conditions from snowstorms — cargo bikes perform reliably in winter and summer alike.Who is this project for?
This project is designed for delivery companies, local businesses, and residents alike, as well as government bodies at the provincial, municipal, and borough levels.
Sustainable mobility is an increasingly important priority. Most cities and businesses now have a sustainable mobility plan they'll need to act on within the next decade to cut GHG emissions.
Reducing GHGs is everyone's responsibility. Every small shift in consumption habits counts — whether that's switching to a hybrid or electric vehicle, taking public transit, or, as with this project, receiving carbon-neutral deliveries.
This reliable, proven delivery model is a strong ally in the fight to cut GHGs. Several major cities around the world — including Prague, Seattle, London, and Toronto — have already adopted similar projects..Which delivery companies are taking part in this project?
Two delivery companies currently operate out of the decarbonized delivery container — Intelcom and Purolator — making it a shared hub. Other delivery companies may join the project in the coming months.
Who's responsible for maintaining the container, and what's being done to prevent vandalism?
Each participating carrier is responsible for maintaining their portion of the hub — keeping the space clean (no litter, picking up boxes and packaging materials, etc.) and reporting any vandalism or major issues to Propulsion Québec.
Propulsion Québec is responsible for the physical structure of the hub — the container itself — and commits to resolving issues and contacting the City of Montreal's graffiti removal team when needed. As this is a pilot project, we're still in an adjustment period and welcome all feedback related to this kind of issue.
If you witness any vandalism, please contact us at mini-poles@propulsionquebec.com.Who installed the zero-emission delivery hub?
Malco Électrique is the project's official installer. Their expertise made it possible to adapt the container for connection to Hydro-Québec's power grid — an essential step in getting the hub up and running.
What measures are in place to reduce noise from trucks delivering to the containers?
Bringing this project to your borough actually minimizes truck traffic. The goal is one delivery vehicle per participating carrier stopping at the hub each day — for a maximum of five delivery vehicles total (vans, small trucks, etc.) unloading packages at the hub.
The hubs are equipped with garage-style doors for loading zero-emission delivery vehicles.
If you have a comment, suggestion, or complaint on this topic, please contact us at mini-poles@propulsionquebec.com.What is Propulsion Québec's role?
Propulsion Québec is Quebec's electric and smart transportation industry cluster. Our mission is to accelerate the growth of Quebec's electric and smart transportation industry, with the ambition of reinventing tomorrow's mobility to make transportation more sustainable.
Our role in this project is to provide oversight, collect data, and manage day-to-day operations of the zero-emission delivery hubs — maximizing the viability of decarbonized urban delivery. We want to lead by example and encourage other Quebec cities and municipalities to follow suit, making this concept a 21st-century essential for cities everywhere.If I have a question, comment, complaint, or suggestion, who can I contact?
This project is an initiative of Propulsion Québec, Quebec's electric and smart transportation industry cluster, in partnership with your borough. If you have any questions or requests, please reach out to us at mini-poles@propulsionquebec.com. A member of our team will be happy to get back to you.
Thanks to our partners:
