EVOLV
Major cities across the globe are introducing clean air zones, soon London will expand the ULEZ, affecting over 200,000 commercial vehicles with total bans on ICE vans looming in the coming years.
This drive for cleaner, more environmentally sound transportation comes when demand for "final mile" delivery vehicles is at an all time high. ONS data shows online sales have leapt from 10% to 30+% of all retail sales over the last decade, and instant needs deliveries are still on the rise in urban areas post-pandemic; further putting pressure on last mile logistics providers.
We have been speaking with logistics companies that lack a fit-for-purpose solution, delivering good total cost of ownership (TCO) for a Zero-Emission solution combining essential user/driver ergonomics; robustness; reliability and load carrying capabilities.
The Evolv consortia have completed a feasibility study, creating a lightweight (L7e) vehicle architecture and specification which is the most efficient in this sector, where efficiency is measured by cost per mile per unit volume of goods carried.
During this ARMD2 project, by focusing on the development of lightweight vehicle and powertrain structures, Prodrive and Astheimer will develop an innovative vehicle platform demonstrator, providing a cubic load capacity comparable to N1 category vehicles in an L7 package. This enables the platform to leverage sales from both L7 and N1 markets, offering a strong TCO proposition to fleet operators in a high-quality L7e vehicle.
The lightweighting focus is supported by digitisation tools and techniques, particularly leveraged in developing optimal user ergonomics; addressing structural design requirements for safety and robustness; and to develop the unique suspension concept a lightweight vehicle carrying a heavyweight payload demands.
Zero-emission credentials will be delivered via a full EV system, thus addressing both electric machines and power electronics, and energy storage and energy management technology themes. The latter will be of prime interest, with the consortia intending to conceptualise a modular energy storage system, comprising of fixed battery and swappable battery elements.
The first-to-market opportunity establishes Evolv as a new mobility brand, directly creating jobs within the consortia and the local supply chain. Our confidence is built on customer research, knowing we can satisfy their needs, supported through adequate funding, by developing an efficient, reliable and trustworthy solution with global scale-up potential.
Funding from APC enables us to rapidly create a functional demonstrator developing further IP, and providing a means to showcase the idea to potential customers and scale-up investors.