Same-day delivery company CitySprint has expanded its bike fleet to include EAV 2Cubed vehicles, which it claims bridge the gap between existing cargo bikes and electric vans.
In May this year, CitySprint started an Oxford-based trial of an e-cargo bike provided by EAV Solutions, a local sustainable vehicle provider.
The EAV vehicles are based on an electric pushbike and therefore do not require a driving licence or registration with the DVLA. They can also be used in pedestrian areas and on cycle paths.
The 2Cubed bikes can reportedly carry up to 150kg of freight in a customisable cargo space that can be tailored to customers’ and riders’ needs.
The bikes are not subject to London’s congestion or ULEZ zones, which are beginning to appear in other cities across the UK.
The Oxford trial has seen the EAVs travel more than 8,000 miles and complete more than 200 zero-emission deliveries so far.
There is a mixed schedule in place for the trial to account for ad-hoc overnight jobs, hospital blood collections and medical deliveries.
According to CitySprint, a number of couriers have asked to participate.
Michael Peterson, Oxford’s service centre manager, CitySprint, said: “I am delighted to have the opportunity to trial the EAV and, now branded, looks awesome, we have had feedback from multiple couriers and has been very positive.
“Members of the public have asked to take photo’s along with customers who have also been impressed with the EAV capabilities.”
The bikes were recently used to complete a set of deliveries in London.
The trial is part of CitySprint’s commitment to making logistics more sustainable by offering a range of zero-emission delivery solutions, with the organisation recently announcing that it is a certified carbon neutral business.
