Honda Debuts Four-Wheeled E-Bike for Last-Mile Delivery
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Move over bicycle couriers, Honda Motor Co. wants to use bike lanes for a new fleet of four-wheeled electric delivery vehicles.
The Japanese automaker said June 17 it plans to start small-scale production this year of an all-electric quadricycle, called the FastPort eQuad, for last-mile delivery in North America and Europe.
The eQuad is designed for use in bikes lanes, subject to local regulations, which the company said in a statement will address urban congestion and rising consumer demand for faster, more frequent deliveries. Honda is targeting global logistics and fleet management firms, and has no immediate plans to sell to retail buyers, according to a company spokeswoman.
Last-mile delivery which refers to the final step in the process is one of the most costly and complex part of a parcels journey. Traffic congestion in densely populated cities like New York, or those with narrow streets like Tokyo, often lead to delays, while the increasing demand for same-day service adds pressure to delivery networks. Companies such as Walmart Inc. and Amazon.com Inc. are now offering drone deliveries to get goods to shoppers faster.
Walmart ranks No. 1 on the泭Transport Topics Top 100 list of the largest private carriers泭in North America.泭Amazon.com Inc. ranks No. 1 on the TT Top 100 list of the largest logistics泭carriers in North America, No. 12 on the泭TT100 list of the largest private carriers泭硃紳餃泭No. 1 on the Top 50 Global Freight list.
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The eQuad is powered by swappable, rechargeable battery packs made in India with a maximum range of 23 miles and of speeds up to 12 mph. It offers two different rear-mounted cargo containers, a large box that can carry up to 650 pounds and a smaller box for payloads no greater than 320 pounds.
For driver comfort, the quadricycle also comes equipped with a UV-coated canopy, ventilation fan and front windshield.
Honda didnt provide a price or production volume estimate, but said it aims for mass-market production by mid-2026. The vehicle will be built at an existing special purpose manufacturing facility in Ohio and the automaker said it will serve as the foundation for other mobility products.
