Cargo e-bikes have gotten so big, this one has six wheels and can jackknife
It’s true: cargo e-bikes are replacing trucks and vans for city deliveries like we’ve never seen before. With an ever-increasing push towards removing those heavy vehicles from our roads, larger electric cargo bikes are starting to pop up, offering to handle more of the loads typically seen carried by trucks. The new Cityshuttle ePack4 is the latest, and perhaps the biggest, to grace the streets.
Cityshuttle’s new cargo e-bike is based on a four-wheeled design that tows a cargo trailer with its own pair of wheels. The setup looks vaguely like your typical 18-wheeler semi-truck, just with a third of the wheels and 150th of the weight.
Riding on bicycle tires and featuring an electric bicycle drivetrain, the ePack4 may look like a delivery truck, but it’s all bike under the hood.
Innovative suspension in the cab and trailer provides a smoother ride for the operator and cargo without sacrificing cargo space. Hand controls follow typical recumbent trike designs, while the bubble nose extends far enough for the rider to operate the pedals.
And for added efficiency and reduced complexity, the designers have eschewed the typical bicycle drivetrain that uses a chain or belt, and instead replaced it with a drive-by-wire system. These are becoming increasingly common in large cargo e-bikes that don’t want to sacrifice cargo space to a chain run, and instead use a generator at the pedals to transfer the energy to the rear wheel, no chains needed.
The ePack4 features four cubic meters of cargo space, or around 140 cubic feet, and can support up to 350 kg of load (771 pounds).
The rear trailer is so big that the company touts its added value as selling digital advertising space as it slips past stopped traffic via the bike lane.
And in case you’re wondering, yes, the bike is apparently legal in bike lanes in the UK, where Cityshuttle is based. The same goes for much of Europe, but for other areas operators will likely need to check the local regulations.
To cater to delivery businesses and courier services, Cityshuttle has outfitted the ePack4 with a number of added features, including GPS tracking, remote fleet management, and a live CCTV feed.
For those that don’t need a massive four cubic meters of storage, there’s also a half-sized two cubic meter trailer option, a tipper trailer, a flat bed, and even a refrigerated trailer. According to the company, a trailer swap takes just two minutes.
“We are thrilled to introduce the ePack4, the world’s largest last-mile cargo delivery bike,” explained company founder Keith Jones in a comment provided to Electrek. “Green in colour, green by nature. We are looking to become the go-to manufacturer for last-mile logistics. Whether it’s cargo, refrigerated, local authorities, we have a flexible solution for all.”
The ePack4 is currently manufactured in the UK, and the company expects to begin larger volume production in 2025. For now, Cityshuttle is focusing on expanding its market in the UK and Europe, where the company claims to be “already generating significant interest.”
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T1 Energy (NYSE: TE), formerly FREYR Battery, kicks off preparations for its new solar cell factory, set to be one of the largest in the US.
T1 Energy has chosen Yates Construction as the contractor for preconstruction services and site preparations for its planned $850 million, G2_Austin 5 GW Solar Cell Facility.
The G2_Austin site is in Milam County, Texas, in the Advanced Manufacturing and Logistix Campus at Sandow Lakes.
It’s expected to create up to 1,800 new direct US advanced manufacturing jobs. Construction is on track to kick off in mid-2025, and the facility is expected to begin producing cells by the end of 2026. There are currently far fewer solar cell manufacturing sites in the US than solar module factories, according to the SEIA.
On December 24, FREYR announced that it had closed its acquisition of China-headquartered Trina Solar’s 5-gigawatt (GW), 1.35 million-square-foot solar panel factory in Wilmer, Texas. The company renamed the factory G1_Dallas, which employs more than 1,000 people and is now fully online.
Daniel Barcelo, T1’s chairman of the board and CEO, said, “Our facilities will manufacture solar cells and modules to invigorate our economy with abundant energy. We’re excited to work with Yates and Milam County to bring American advanced manufacturing to the heart of Texas and to unlock our most scalable energy resources.”
T1 Energy says it anticipates finalizing commercial terms with Yates Construction as General Contractor.
Read more: FREYR rebrands after killing its $2.6B Georgia battery factory plans
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![Kia's affordable EV2 may be small, but it looks bigger in person [Video]](https://i0.wp.com/electrek.co/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2025/05/Kia-EV2-closer-look.jpeg?resize=1200,628&quality=82&strip=all&ssl=1)
The EV2 is set to arrive as Kia’s smallest and most affordable electric vehicle next year. With its official debut coming up, the electric SUV was spotted driving on public roads. The electric SUV may be small, but it looks bigger in person.
Kia’s new EV2 is an affordable, small electric SUV
Kia has yet to say precisely how big the EV2 will be, but it’s expected to be around 4,000 mm (157″), or slightly smaller than the EV3 at 4,300 mm (169.3″). That’s even more compact than the outgoing Chevy Bolt EV (163.2″).
During its EV Day event in April, Kia unveiled the Concept EV2, a preview of the entry-level EV that will sit below the EV3.
Although it’s the brand’s smallest EV, Kia promises that it will feel larger when you’re inside. The EV2 sits higher than you’d expect with a wide front end, giving it a bigger presence on the road, similar to the three-row EV9.
We got a sneak peek at Kia’s affordable EV last month after it was spotted testing on public roads in Korea, but the latest sighting gives us a closer look at the EV2 in its production form. The new video from HealerTV reveals a few details that could look a little different from the concept.
The footage shows what appears to be different daytime running lights (DRLs). When Kia unveiled the Concept EV2 in April, it featured a unique split vertical headlight design.
The EV2 spotted driving still has the split design, but both the inner and outer lights appear to be angled more inwards. It’s not a huge difference, but given most of Kia’s new EVs look almost identical to the concepts, this could be something to keep an eye on.
Prices, specs, and more
Despite being an entry-level model, the EV2 is still equipped with advanced technology and features, including vehicle-to-load (V2L) capability, which allows it to power a campsite, home appliances, and other electronics. With OTA updates, it will only get smarter and more advanced over time.
The interior will feature Kia’s new ccNC (connected car Navigation Cockpit), which features dual 12.3″ driver cluster and touchscreen navigation screens in a panoramic display.
Like its other new EV models, it’s also expected to include a 5″ climate control display for nearly 30″ of screen space.
Kia plans to launch the EV2 next year in Europe and “other global regions.” For those in the US, sorry to disappoint, but it’s not expected to make the trip overseas. We do have the EV4, Kia’s first electric sedan, to look forward to.
We will learn prices and final specs closer to launch, but given it will sit below the EV3, it will likely be cheaper than that.
The EV3 starts at £32,995 ($44,800) in the UK and €35,990 ($41,600) in Europe. Kia’s CEO, Ho-Sung Song, told Autocar in 2023 that the company aims to launch the EV2 at around £25,000 ($32,000) in the UK. With new battery technology and other advancements, it could be even more affordable when it arrives next year.
Kia isn’t the only automaker gearing up to launch a new entry-level EV. Last week, we got a glimpse of the upcoming Volkswagen ID.2 after it was spotted in public testing.
Should Kia bring the EV2 to the US? Would you buy one for around $30,000 or even slightly less? Drop us a comment below and let us know.
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