Oxford-based EAV has commenced crowd-funding on (www.Seedrs.com) to fund the next stage of development for its EAVan, an eCargo bike developed ‘down from a van’ rather than ‘up from a bicycle’.

The zero-emissions super-lightweight EAVan is a bio-mechanical electric-assist quadracycle that was developed as the result of a clean-air partnership between EAV and DPD Group — a Birmingham-based parcel delivery company.

Launched in April at the Oxford EV Summit, the EAVan has already found success, with orders from DPD, a Norwegian logistics company (Posten Norge) and the Danish/Swedish postal service (PostNord).

The EAVan has a 250W electric motor (plus pedals) and a range of up to 60 miles (at speeds up to 15mph); it carry up to 120kg and can be recharged via a standard 13amp socket.

The batteries can be fully recharged in under 6hr, or they can be swapped to keep the vehicle in constant use.

It is made from advanced composites, which include carbon fibre and the latest fully recyclable materials — such as hemp fibres bonded together with a resin based on the oil from cashew nut shells.

Adam Barmby, EAV founder and technical director (www.eavcargo.com), said: “The EAVan is classed as an eCargo bike, but we really started from scratch and imagined an entirely new type of vehicle to operate within the parameters of today’s zero-emissions landscape.

"The modular design allows us to extend or shorten the chassis and change the rear deck configuration to fit whatever brief we have.

"In addition to the design flexibility, there is also a whole new set of efficiencies that we are tapping into here. The EAVan can move as fast as — or faster than — a traditional van or car through many cities, because of the different routes it can take.”