EVOLV Quadricycle: A New Era in Last Mile Delivery

source: Prodrive

Published 4 September 2024

Prodrive and Astheimer unveil cutting-edge EVOLV demonstrator at Cenex Expo 2024

Imagine a world where deliveries are made swiftly, silently, and with minimal environmental impact. No more noisy diesel engines or congested city streets. A world where packages arrive at your doorstep, not from a hulking van, but from a sleek, electric quadricycle that’s as nimble as a city mouse. That world is becoming a reality, thanks to the EVOLV.

At the Cenex Expo 2024, Prodrive Advanced Technology and Astheimer Design debuted the EVOLV, a ground-breaking electric quadricycle that promises to transform last-mile delivery. This compact yet highly efficient vehicle, developed through the collaboration of Prodrive and Astheimer, addresses the growing demand for zero-emission, reliable, and versatile last-mile logistics solutions.

source: Prodrive

A New Era for Last-Mile Deliveries

As urban areas increasingly adopt clean air zones and online shopping continues to surge, the need for specialized last-mile delivery vehicles has never been greater. Traditional delivery vans often fall short in urban environments, being either too large, costly, or inefficient for short-distance deliveries. Prodrive and Astheimer’s EVOLV demonstrator is set to fill this gap, offering a solution that is not only environmentally friendly but also highly practical.

Designed with fleet operators in mind, the EVOLV stands out in the L7e category (light quadricycles), which allows it to be driven with a standard car license. Despite its compact dimensions—just 3,240mm long and 1,450mm wide—the EVOLV offers a class-leading 4 cubic meters of load space, rivalling mid-size vans. This impressive capacity is complemented by the vehicle’s lightweight construction, weighing only 850kg with batteries, making it incredibly efficient in terms of both cost and energy consumption per mile.

Safety and Efficiency at the Core

Prodrive Advanced Technology prioritized safety in the EVOLV’s design, engineering the vehicle to meet N1 (small van) passive safety crash standards—a first for the L7e category. This includes rigorous front, side, and roof crash performance, as well as pedestrian impact and driver safety features. Such safety measures make the EVOLV not just an efficient delivery vehicle but also a safe one, ensuring the protection of both the driver and the public.

The vehicle’s architecture is equally innovative, minimizing the driver’s cabin to maximize cargo space. The main load area accommodates a 1.6m tall Euro pallet with a 300kg payload, accessed through secure self-locking sliding doors. Additionally, a secondary load area offers space for another pallet with a 200kg payload, accessed via rear barn doors. This design flexibility allows the EVOLV to handle a variety of cargo types, making it ideal for diverse urban delivery needs.

source: Prodrive

source: Prodrive

Designed for Urban Efficiency

The EVOLV’s compact footprint is perfect for navigating congested city streets, with a tight turning circle of just 7.8 meters—comparable to that of a London taxi. Its skateboard-style chassis and modular body panels are designed for easy maintenance and quick repairs, ensuring high uptime and minimal disruptions.

The vehicle’s all-electric powertrain, paired with a battery capacity of up to 20kWh, offers a range of 100 miles and a top speed of 50mph. This range is well-suited to the demands of urban deliveries, with the added benefit of a quick charge time of under two hours for a 20-80 percent recharge. The EVOLV also includes a stowable pallet truck, allowing operators to efficiently handle deliveries from vehicle to storefront.

source: Prodrive

ELM Mobility: Driving the Future of Last-Mile Transport

Building on the success of the EVOLV demonstrator, Prodrive and Astheimer have launched ELM Mobility, a joint venture aimed at bringing a production-ready last-mile electric vehicle to market by 2028. ELM Mobility plans to leverage the insights and technologies developed during the EVOLV project to create a family of models tailored to the unique needs of urban logistics.

With prices starting at around £25,000, the upcoming production model will offer an affordable yet high-performing solution for businesses looking to streamline their delivery operations while reducing their carbon footprint.

source: Prodrive

Looking Ahead

The EVOLV demonstrator represents a significant step forward in the evolution of last-mile delivery vehicles. As ELM Mobility prepares for the next phase of development, including customer trials and production readiness, the future looks bright for urban logistics. With its innovative design, focus on safety, and commitment to efficiency, the EVOLV is poised to become a game-changer in the world of last-mile transport.

The industry eagerly anticipates the launch of the production model in 2028, which promises to set new standards for efficiency and sustainability in urban deliveries. Prodrive and Astheimer’s vision for ELM Mobility could very well shape the future of city logistics, offering a cleaner, safer, and more efficient alternative to traditional delivery vehicles.