Meet Volkswagen’s smallest commercial vehicle ever,
the Cargo e-Bike. It also doubles as the automaker’s first e-bike and it just
had its U.S. debut at the LA Auto Show. The Cargo e-Bike was designed for
use in downtown areas, production plants, as well as businesses of all types
and hotels. The list of potential applications is limitless, as VW points out. The carmaker describes it as “a
progressive last-mile server designed as a commercial vehicle.”
That’s because it can make emissions-free deliveries
in places where a truck can’t go, like pedestrian-only city centers. The
vehicle has two wheels at the front and a load platform positioned low between
them. A cargo box with a storage volume of 501 liters is mounted
on the load platform.
Remarkably, the Cargo e-Bike can carry a total
payload of 210 kg, including the rider. And thanks to the
tilt-compensating tech, the load platform remains horizontal in turns, ensuring
that the goods remain stable during transport. Power comes from a 250 watt
(48-volt) mid-mounted electric motor that assists the rider’s pedaling at
speeds up to 25 km/h. Energy for the electric motor is supplied by a
500 Wh lithium-ion battery which ensures a range of up to 100 km.
The three-wheeled vehicle is 2,060 mm long, 890 mm wide and 1,100 mm tall — up to the
handlebar. It weighs just 40 kg without the rider. The relatively
long wheelbase of 1,350 mm and low center of gravity of the load
platform contribute to “a high degree of rollover safety,” according to VW.
Maneuverability is also enhanced by the track,
limited to 900 mm, which allows the Cargo e-Bike to pass through
most door frames. VW will build it in Hannover, Germany, with a market launch
expected for 2019.
