Oxfordshire-based Electric Assisted Vehicles (EAV) is to launch an e-bike taxi in spring 2021. The EAVgo will be a passenger version of the 2Cubed cargo bike that is being used within London’s ultra-low emission zone by UK laundry start-up, Oxwash.
The EAVgo will feature a separate chassis-cab unit instead of the cargo container of the 2Cubed. Fleet News reports that the design will feature full suspension and side doors.
There’s a passenger step to get in, or the whole rear seat can flip forwards with a fold-out ramp providing wheelchair access through the rear.
Another nice little feature is a translucent solar panel on the top of the passenger compartment.
“Electric cars, vans and taxis are actually hugely inefficient in their energy usage,” said EAV chief executive, Adam Barmby. “They’re large and heavy and a lot of energy is simply wasted just moving their own weight around.
“We looked closely at both taxis and PHVs in urban environments and immediately saw we could be more efficient, cleaner, healthier and just as comfortable at a much lower cost.”
There’s an extra wheel compared to the vehicles you’ll see in many parts of Asia, but the EAVgo has a definite electric rickshaw/tuk-tuk vibe.
It’ll be interesting to see the extent to which such a vehicle will be adopted in the UK.
EAV points out there are over 375,000 taxis and private hire vehicles (PHV) in the country with around 200,000 individual taxi journeys in London alone every day.
Almost two thirds of all journeys are single occupancy and are usually between one and five miles. EAV figures that’s a lot of wasted energy spent moving one or two people a short distance.
“Our experience in running trials and now supplying EAVs to the logistics industry internationally has shown us that, due to levels of congestion in towns and cities, we can be more efficient than vans and cars,” said Barmby.
“The value of the global e-hailing market for taxis and PHVs is forecast to hit £150bn by 2025 which is a lot of journeys meaning a lot of emissions, weight and congestion in cities worldwide. The EAV Taxi will help to significantly reduce those issues while efficiently and comfortably delivering the customer to their desired location.”
