EAV, the Oxfordshire-based micro-mobility manufacturer, has revealed its latest design of lightweight, zero-emissions urban commercial vehicles. The EAV Taxi has been produced to ease congestion, reduce environmental and infrastructure impact, as well as improve efficiency within towns and cities worldwide.
The EAV Taxi evolved from the recently launched EAV2cubed e-cargo vehicle, which features a separate front cab with multiple rear box and pod carrying solutions. EAV has now created a passenger-carrying solution on its established and patented Cloudframe chassis.
Adam Barmby, founder and CEO of EAV, said: “The main focus for EAV is to continue demonstrating that weight is the enemy of efficiency and therefore of energy conservation. Electric cars, vans and taxis are hugely inefficient in their energy usage. They’re large and heavy and a lot of energy is wasted just moving their weight around.
“We looked closely at both taxis and private hire vehicles in urban environments and immediately saw we could be more efficient, cleaner and healthier and just as comfortable at a much lower cost. The fact that we’re as safe and much better for the environment and city infrastructure are purely added benefits.”
There are over 375,000 taxis and private hire vehicles currently in the UK, with around 200,000 individual taxi journeys in London alone every day. Around 65 percent of all taxi and private hire vehicle journeys are single occupancy and are usually between one and five miles. EAV believes that a lot of resources and energy are being wasted simply moving one or two people a short distance.
Adam Barmby, founder and CEO of EAV, said: “Our experience in running trials and 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.
“The value of the global e-hailing market for taxis and private hire vehicles is forecast to hit £150 billion 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.”
The EAV Taxi, provisionally named the EAVGo!, has been designed to carry up to two passengers in a new rear compartment that has full suspension and lightweight side doors. Inside the EAV Taxi, memory foam seat and back cushions are used to provide a comfortable ride. There’s also a video screen to provide journey or location information, and cabin heating or cooling to create a comfortable environment. Plus there’s a luggage compartment under the seats.
Nigel Gordon-Stewart, Executive Chairman at EAV, said: “We’re 90 percent lighter than any hybrid or electric car and, if we just replaced one hybrid Uber with an EAV Taxi, we would save about 9.2 metric tons of carbon dioxide emissions in one year alone. Our energy usage is a fraction of an electric taxi and we don’t need an infrastructure to charge our batteries, just a normal plug socket.”
“Most importantly, the EAV Taxi would get a passenger to their destination in any town or city just as quickly, safely and comfortably as any other taxi or private hire vehicle. With a number of current taxis and PHVs shortly being unable to operate in ULEZ towns and cities without paying high charges, the EAV Taxi is the perfect solution.”
EAV plan to produce the prototype EAV Taxi in November 2020, with production EAV Taxis deliveries taking place in spring 2021.
