DPD has taken delivery of the first 10 EAV P1 electric assist cargo bikes – the result of a partnership with Oxford-based manufacturer EAV.
Five of the bio-mechanical hybrid electric-assisted pedal bikes are currently being tested in London, York and Newbury, while the other five are being shipped to DPD business units in Ireland, Spain, Germany, Portugal and France to help support British manufacturing and exporting abroad.
The purpose-built, quadracycle is 2m long and 1m wide, weighs 75kg and can carry a 120kg payload. The 250W motor helps the rider accelerate to a maximum speed of 15mph. The P1 can cover a range of up to 60 miles in a day and more than 100 parcel stops, and then be recharged using a normal 13A, 240V plug socket.
Dwain McDonald, DPD’s CEO, commented, “The early trials show that the P1 is performing really well and clearly has potential to be more efficient for us than traditional vans in certain locations. It is highly maneuverable, can carry a good day’s worth of parcels and can often get closer to delivery addresses than the vans.”
