Projected lifecycle costs of commercial vehicles by type in Sweden 2027-2032

The comparison between drones and conventional logistical means has been gaining popularity over the last few years, especially with the challenges presented by COVID-19. Since the pandemic, the need for relative autonomy to combat the effects of isolation on staffing and the increase in e-commerce during that period has led to increased research into the use of drones and other autonomous means.

What would the costs be?

Between the three major transportation options for last-mile logistics, there will be a significant difference between the percentage of costs in Sweden. For truck logistics, the largest predicted percentage of costs is projected to be staff costs, making up around 70 percent of all costs during the vehicles' lifespan. By contrast, staff costs could make up just 6 percent of all drone-related costs, a significantly smaller figure compared to truck-related logistics. With regards to drones, the majority of costs is forecast to come from fuel and the purchasing of the drone itself, with fuel making up around 40 percent of all costs. In terms of truck-related logistics, the cost of fuel will only make up 3 percent of costs for e-trucks and 14 percent for diesel-powered trucks respectively.

Are drones the future of logistics?

As drones have become more accessible, the average drone price has seen a steady decline since 2018. This steady decline has arguably fueled the last mile logistics market interest and development in the use of drones, with people living in European cities expressing an eagerness to try delivery drones. Despite the obvious and far-reaching positives of using drones in the last-mile logistics industry, the technology is still relatively new and thus requires more development. There should be an increased use of drones in the not-so-distant future, but the reliance on land and water-based logistics solutions will also remain.