Economic Benefits Comparison of a 60kWh Foldable Container

Are foldable containers economically viable?

In order to examine the economic viability of the developed foldable container as compared to a standard 40-ft high-cube container, cost analysis is performed for an example route, i.e., the Busan–Vostochny–Moscow route (Fig. 10), which involves both inland and maritime transportation.

Do foldable containers reduce container fleet management costs?

The effect of foldable containers on the costs of container fleet management in liner shipping networks. Maritime Economics & Logistics. 2012. Vol. 14. No. 4. P. 455-479. DOI: 10.1057/mel.2012.16. Shintani, K. & Konings, R. & Imai, A. Combinable containers: A container innovation to save container fleet and empty container repositioning costs.

What are the benefits of a foldable container?

Using the newly developed foldable container can not only significantly reduce logistics costs, but also bring positive environmental impacts such as reducing greenhouse gas that may have arisen from transporting bulky empty containers. Also the foldable container influences social aspects such as noise pollution, local development and employment.

What are the conditions for the success of foldable containers?

Konings and Thijs summarized clearly the conditions for the success of foldable containers in the market: (1) low costs for folding and unfolding the containers; (2) low manufacturing costs; (3) compatibility with existing equipment for intermodal transport; and (4) structural robustness.