EAV develops small van to support e-scooter deployment

Electric Assisted Vehicles (EAV) has launched the 2Charge, a new ultra-lightweight commercial vehicle based on its 2Cubed model.

Its primary function is to support e-scooter share companies that operate public hire schemes as part of the UK Department for Transport’s managed-trials. 

Co-designed with Ford’s micromobility unit, Spin, the new vehicle will enable e-scooter operators to achieve a more sustainable approach to their operations including deploying e-scooters when they need to be moved to meet local consumer demand or replacing batteries.

“I’ve always been a huge fan of the TV animation series, ‘Thunderbirds’.” said Adam Barmby, CEO and founder of EAV.  “In the series, Thunderbird 2 was able to detach its rear container pod and replace it with another which was dedicated to the mission it was going to be sent on.  It could deploy a submarine, trucks of all kinds and even a tunnelling vehicle called ‘The Mole’. 

“We set about this challenge by considering what International Rescue would do and how we could develop a rear pod, based on the 2Cubed, which would provide Spin with the vehicle capability they needed.  The approach may sound a bit far-fetched but consider what a traditional van has been used for over the years and we’re equally as versatile if not more so.”

EAV’s engineering challenge from Spin was the development of a support, repair, rescue and possible mobile charging vehicle for the trial of e-scooters which are now being deployed in Clacton-on Sea in Essex.

“We need vehicles for our operations that moves us towards becoming a carbon negative company by 2025,” added Steve Pyer, UK Country Manager at Spin. “But we also need them to be able to carry spare batteries, tools, replacement parts and have space to move e-scooters around to meet changing demand. 

“It had to be zero emissions, lightweight and easy to operate.  We couldn’t find exactly what we were looking for, so we decided to create one and collaborate with the EAV team to co-design this new model.  We worked with the team and converted the rear pod for our specific purpose.”

EAV is already supplying multiple international logistics companies such as DPD and Zedify as well as supporting supermarket deliveries by Asda and Ocado.  

The 2Charge is a generic unit, which can be supplied to support any scooter rental agency worldwide although the rear compartment can be modified for specific purposes at a customer’s request.