Carit is developing a small electric vehicle (LEV) with a multipurpose load bed equiva-lent to a europallet and a payload of 250 kg. Hop On may be transported on board of a delivery van without restricting its loading capacity.
It has a total gross weight of 510 kg, a speed of 20 km/h (and therefore no helmet require-ment), and its range is 30 km, or optionally 60 km. Unlike with other familiar designs (such as cargo bikes), the driver only requires a small space, and no physical exertion is needed to drive Hop On.
It is envisaged that the delivery vans used by parcel services will incorporate a special system for Hop On that does not restrict the total storage space available for parcels. The van is parked at the edge of the delivery zone, from which point Hop On is used to deliver the indi-vidual packages to their recipients. Micro depots, which are essential for delivery operations based on cargo bikes, are no longer necessary. The strategy complies with the sustainability concept of a renowned van manufacturer.
A lightweight hoist, which is sufficient for loading and unloading the upper row of containers and hoisting and lowering Hop On, is fixed to guide rails in the corners of the van’s gangway.
Hop On can be driven by remote control during the distribution process and moved into and out of the van under its own power.
Advantages
• The delivery van is parked in the ‘last-but-one mile’, which reduces urban traffic vol-ume and removes the need for a micro-depot,
• With a maximum width of 84 cm, Hop On can also be used on cycle paths and easily passes through the van door into the vehicle interior,
• Different types of delivery areas (inner city, fringe areas) can be served with the same delivery van,
• Does not cause air pollution,
• Small turning circle for easy manoeuvring,
• Faster delivery times,
• Faster loading in the logistics centre,
• Tried and tested automotive parts, low servicing costs.
Target Groups
• Courier, express and parcel services, mail delivery
Delivery of parcels in the last mile – currently more than 11 million shipments per deliv-ery day (in 2017 more than 3.3 billion shipments, expected to reach 4 billion shipments by 2022)
• Craft trade firms working at building sites in big cities and central urban areas
• Municipal works
• Mobile home manufacturers (integrated armrests and seat in the load bed)
A modular system of exchangeable folding containers is being developed alongside Hop On. These containers can be prepacked in the logistics centre throughout the day, reducing the time needed to load the delivery van in the morning by over an hour; this does not cause any hindrances to the pick-up run.
The multipurpose load bed has the same standard dimensions as a europallet and is addition-ally fitted with a load securing device; it is therefore also suitable for standard retail containers and packages, in addition to its proprietary exchangeable containers.
Moreover, the containers can be equipped with transponders, which not only enable their lo-calisation but also record the packages contained within for the customer‘s logistics pro-gramme.
Optional transponders can also be used to lock the containers and the Hop On vehicle. The immobiliser and locking mechanism can both be operated using a remote control.
The development of the vehicle and its container also considered the potential need to modify the interior of the delivery van to accommodate the changes in parcel quantities and sizes that have taken place over the years.
For instance, it might be advantageous to have a single shelf on each side, which should as far as possible be dividable and foldable, instead of the usual two shelves. This would create storage spaces equivalent to a large container, which would enable containers of up to 1.20 m in height in the bottom row and up to 60 cm in the top row to be accommodated.
Technical specifications:
Dimensions (L x W x H): 185 x 84 x 42 cm
Two motor alternatives 72 V
Standard 1.7 kW
Optional 3.0 kW (for use in terrain with gradients of up to 20%)
Range: 30 km, optional 60 km
Brakes
Front axle: disc brake
Rear axle: recuperation, electromagnetic gearbox brake, drum brakes
Parking brake: automatic gearbox lock on standstill
Ergonomic and easily accessible instrument panel with control switches and display
Display: battery management, speed and error management
Fixture for customer-specified recording systems
USB (2) connection and receptacle for communication and navigation
Trailer: folding aluminium construction, four-wheeler, with the dimensions of a europallet
Industrial property rights are held exclusively by Carit.
Development status and sales plan
Sept. 2019: Optimisation and endurance tests of prototypes,
By 31 December 2019: European type approval and pilot production,
Until mid-2020: 10 vehicles per month, from mid-2020: 100 vehicles per month.
http://www.carit-automotive.com/?lang=en
