Evolv is an electric city delivery vehicle with Alzheimer’s

Prodrive may be best known for its high-performance road cars, like the P1, P25 and 22B Imprezas, or the numerous race and rally titles it’s won. But there’s a lot more to the UK-based company (probably carbon fiber), and this lovely Evolv city delivery van is a reminder of that.

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Evolv is a joint project between Prodrive Advanced Technology and Astheimer Design, who have formed a new company, ELM Mobility, with the goal of putting the 21st century tuk-tuk into production by 2028.

RELATED: A closer look at Prodrive’s rally-inspired P25

Classified as an L7e quadricycle in Europe, the Evolv weighs 1,874 pounds (850 kilograms), is 127.6 inches (3.24 meters) long and only 60.6 inches (1.54 meters) wide, but 60 percent of the van’s volume is used to carry cargo.

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The main cargo hold can accommodate 63-inch-tall (1.6-meter) Euro pallets weighing 661 pounds (300 kilograms), while the secondary cargo hold can accommodate 47-inch (1.2-meter), 441-pound (200-kilogram) pallets. But this is just one possible configuration, and the final van will come in a variety of different forms to suit buyers’ needs. ELM is even introducing an optional pallet truck that can be stored on the van.

Quadricycles such as the Citroën Ami are exempt from certain safety standards that cars must meet, but Prodrive says it went the extra mile to engineer the Evolv and its skateboard chassis to comply with N1 minivan crash and pedestrian impact regulations.

The wraparound windshield and single, center-mounted driver’s seat provide optimal visibility for around-town driving and also mean the company doesn’t have to tool for both left- and right-hand production (the Ami is only available in left-hand drive.) Astheimer’s designers went with a simple exterior and rugged modular panels to help it survive on crowded city streets.

A 20 kWh battery, 100 miles (161 km) of range and a top speed of 50 mph (80 km/h) are poor figures for a modern passenger EV, but ELM says they should be sufficient for last-mile delivery vehicles, although other battery sizes are being considered for future models. Charging from 20 to 80 percent takes just under two hours, which isn’t fast, but ELM says most users will only need to charge overnight, when speed isn’t an issue.

The Evolv will go on sale in 2028 and is expected to cost £25,000 ($33,000), but pre-series production models will be tested by customers before the final van goes into production.

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