The vision of Electric Assisted Vehicles (EAV) is to produce world-beating solutions to mobility and urban challenges, with the aim of benefiting the environment and people's quality of life.

EAV's existing product lineup specifically targets urban commercial fleets - successfully addressing the "last mile" challenge for urban deliveries by using a design ethos to conceptually 'engineer down' from Light Commercial Vehicles (LCVs) rather than 'engineer up' from the bicycle. EAV has been able to develop the most ergonomic eCargo bike on the market, with approval from market partners to prove it.

EAV have developed a strong pipeline of interest in their cargo bikes (50 EAV from DPD (£550k)); customer pipeline sales include Amazon, Royal Mail, Asda/Walmart, Postnord, Co-op, EDF energy, Toyota Kinto and Faxi resulting in opportunities worth in excess of £5m by 2021\. To capitalise, EAV are currently scaling up through an Innovate Loan, developing a production line to manufacture 100 units/month.

This project is the EAVmove, a four-wheeled electric-assisted pedal-powered passenger vehicle capable of carrying up to 3 passengers (a Pedicab).

Currently, no suitable zero-emissions alternative to Private Hire Vehicles (PHV) exists with regard to meeting urban environmental restrictions and PHV functional requirements (luggage capacity, passenger experience.

Utilising the EAV ethos, the purpose of this project is to test the feasibility of expanding the current EAV product line into the passenger mobility market. EAVmove will be a zero-emission Taxi or PHV suitable for modern app-based ride-hailing services (E-hailing).

EAV vehicles do not require dedicated fast-charge 3-phase networks, vastly reducing demand on the network over electric vehicles, can operate efficiently in congested urban environments by utilising cycle networks, and with greater flexibility/access to parking are able to get closer to destinations. They are environmentally friendly, with zero carbon emissions during transit, incredibly light on-road infrastructure wear, and much reduced particulate emissions, providing true ULEZ/ZEZ compatibility.

Part-sharing with the existing EAV range will reduce work, accelerate development and minimise risk. This project will enable EAV to utilise its existing technology, experience and manufacturing capability to respond to an emerging market gap. Developing a true Zero Emission Vehicle (ZEV) that can meet the demands of passenger transport in today's urban mobility systems.

Furthermore, EAVmove will support society's need to fast-track the introduction of zero-emission passenger transport into urban environments, promote healthier lifestyles, increase accessibility to cycle/zero-emission transport, and provide market options for an increasingly de-carbonised future.