Zoomo to offer EAV cargo bikes on its platform

congesting our cities. EAV’s cargo bikes are one of the largest on the market, with a cargo volume of 2,000 litres and a 150kg payload. They are built to efficiently navigate urban landscapes and enable customers to make more deliveries in a shorter amount of time via their ability to access cycle lanes and safely navigate pedestrianised spaces.

As EAV’s official fleet partner, Zoomo will offer financing for EAV’s range of vehicles alongside their maintenance guarantee and telematically enabled fleet management software.

Last-mile electric fleet company Zoomo will now be offering EAV cargo bikes on its platform, in a leasing, servicing and telematically enabled software offering.

The EAV, with its 2m3 of cargo space, has the potential to replace the millions of vans

Michael Johnson, co-founder and CRO at Zoomo, said: “We are bringing the vehicle leasing model from the automotive space to light electric vehicles. By integrating different vehicle types into our platform, like EAV e-cargo bikes, with leasing, servicing and telematically enabled software solutions, we are able to provide customers in urban logistics with a onestop solution for all their delivery fleet needs.

“EAV’s cargo bikes are highly innovative and will enable us to offer more efficient and sustainable fleet solutions to our customers in existing and new segments, like parcel delivery.”

EAV will benefit from Zoomo’s global reach

READ MORE in Australia, North America and Europe. In addition, EAV’s existing and future customers get access to Zoomo’s expansive servicing network, telematically enabled software platform and finance offering.

Adam Barmby, Founder and CEO, EAV, said: “Zoomo are perfectly placed to support the take up of EAVs in city centres across the world, and drive the positive difference that we’re pushing for. We are thrilled to have a like minded partner on our mission to revolutionise the last mile, and to create cleaner, safer cities.

“This partnership maximises our complementary expertise – with Zoomo’s servicing, financing and software making the switch to light electric vehicles a simple step for our shared customers. Meanwhile, we will continue to ensure every single vehicle meets the highest specifications for build and rider-experience, as we innovate on solutions which further reduce the cost and the emissions impact of urban logistics.”

The first prototype build is targeted for July/ August 2023 with the first mining haul truck module due for completion in August 2023. READ

Electric van shortages slowing EV uptake Government urged to incentivise price of repowered buses

Bus repower company Kleanbus has called upon the UK Government to incentivise the price of a repowered electric bus in England & Wales.

Businesses are unable to get hold of the electric vans needed to switch their fleets due to supply shortages, which is severely hampering their vital transition to clean vehicles, the Climate Group has reported. Shortage of EV supply is most acute in the UK’s commercial van sector, with businesses ready to invest but unable to secure the electric vehicles in the quantity they need.

Figures released recently by the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) show that less than three per cent of new van registrations were battery electric vehicles (BEVs), with only 25 models available for purchase in the UK. Meanwhile, the market share of electric cars in the overall car market is three times greater than fully electric van’s share of the UK’s van market. Shortages are slowing uptake and causing it to lag behind.

According to Climate Group, manufacturers have a mountain to climb to ramp up variety and quantity ahead of 2024, when the first sales targets for zero-emission cars and vans come into force through the UK’s zero-emission vehicle (ZEV) mandate.

Climate Group argues more needs to be done to meet business demand for fully electric vehicles and to ensure the UK meets its 2030 commitment to phase-out sales of new petrol and diesel cars and vans.

Alongside manufacturers clearing the backlog of demand, the UK government needs to step up its ambition to help UK businesses make the switch.

The UK’s charging network needs rapid expansion – a reliable, affordable charging network is needed to support the growing number of businesses wanting to invest in EVs.

Road transport is responsible for around a fifth of total UK emissions. The switch to zero emission needs to happen faster to meet the UK’s net zero targets, clean up the UK’s air and mitigate climate change, Climate Group warned.

A strong, ambitious ZEV mandate, a key pillar of the government’s Net Zero strategy and will have a huge impact on carbon emissions, will help supply match demand, and speed up EV adoption.

Speaking at Zemo Partnership’s 20th Anniversary Conference in London, Lucy Parkin, director of ESG at Kleanbus addressed the significant opportunities in reducing urban pollution through repowering – converting an existing diesel or hybrid bus to electric power – which is fast and cost-effective. However, no funding is available to reduce the price of a repowered bus. Kleanbus applauds funding initiatives, such as that led by Transport Scotland’s ScotZEB, which acknowledges the pivotal role of repowering and offers £50,000 grants to make SMEs access and expedite the transition of diesel buses to zero emissions.

Joe Tighe, CEO of Kleanbus, commented: “Decarbonising transport has become one of the greatest challenges of our time but it can be achieved at speed with the right solution, and more importantly the support and funding to do so. Fleet operators and the planet don’t have time to waste, there is a need for UK to have a bus strategy that includes repowering of buses with electric powertrains. The UK is waiting when it needs to be acting. We at Kleanbus call for a greater level of support for operators to make the change to electric quicker to help us all breathe easier.”

Repowering existing buses by replacing their diesel engines or hybrid powertrains with fully electric powertrains is the fastest and most cost-effective method to achieve a zero-emission bus fleet. By doing so, it could bring about fully electric bus fleets six years earlier than relying on the roll out of new zero emission buses alone. This could give a potential saving of over 4Mt CO2 and reduce emissions by up to 80 per cent across a vehicle’s lifecycle. Kleanbus offers an advanced ‘ePowertrain Module’ which combines components from leading Tier 1 suppliers with its own integration technology and proprietary software. This solution enables the rapid and cost-effective conversion of single or double-decker buses from internal combustion engines to fully electric power.

Innovative transport technology projects awarded funding

develop research into real-world solutions to address some of transport’s most pressing issues, such as decarbonisation. This can be a useful way for researchers to take their first steps in creating a new company, helping to grow the economy and create jobs across the UK.

Some of this year’s winning projects include IONA Logistics, who will explore how autonomous drones based out of small delivery hubs can be used to deliver small packages faster and cheaper to hard-to-reach rural areas.

Sixty-seven transport technology projects will receive a share of £1.96 million in funding as part of the government’s Transport Research and Innovation Grant (TRIG) Programme. The projects receiving funding include remote-controlled robots for deliveries; kite-powered tug boats to reduce emissions; and drones to deliver packages in hard-to-reach areas.

The TRIG programme looks to encourage engineers, academics and innovators to

Another winner was Transreport Limited, who will be creating an app that allows disabled and older passengers to book the support they need on planes in advance to improve the experience. This app is already in use on trains

The Port of Tyne will explore the viability of using remotely-controlled, and in some instances automated, electric heavy-duty robots to replace HGVs to provide a cleaner and faster alternative, reducing delays in the delivery process.

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