You might recognize Prodrive from its impressive track record in motorsports and high-performance vehicles. The company, formerly the orchestrators of Subaru’s championship-winning World Rally team, also built Ferrari 550 Le Mans racers. Now, they are selling limited-edition, exceptional Impreza 22b tribute cars. But their next business venture takes a different turn: a tiny electric van concept.
This is the EVOLV demonstrator, a concept for a last-mile electric delivery vehicle developed by an alliance between Prodrive and the British design firm Astheimer. It represents the first concept from their new joint venture, ELM Mobility, which aims for a production-ready delivery vehicle like the EVOLV by 2028.
The EVOLV demonstrator has a cargo area that makes up 60% of the total volume, which is a substantial 141 cubic feet. This space is divided into two primary cargo compartments: a main area accessible through a side barn door and a secondary space reached via more traditional rear doors. Despite the substantial cargo capacity, the EVOLV maintains a compact footprint, measuring 128 inches in length and 57 inches in width. This makes the EVOLV nine inches narrower and over a foot shorter than a Fiat 500e. It also boasts a low curb weight, weighing less than 1,874 pounds with batteries and under 1,322 pounds without them. This light weight could potentially classify it as a quadricycle in England rather than a standard car.
ELM Mobility hopes to bring a production version of the compact EVOLV to city streets. The company anticipates that the van’s small footprint and tight turning radius would minimize disruptions in urban delivery scenarios. The brand envisions production and sales of these unique vans by 2028, with an estimated price of around $33,000.
