Volvo's EV Brand Polestar Reveals an ‘Electric Transporter' Prototype for Last Mile Delivery

author: Eric Walz   

Electric vehicle brand Polestar, which is jointly operated by Volvo Cars and its parent company Chinese automaker Geely, developed a compact electric transporter designed for zero-emissions, last-mile deliveries. The working prototype was unveiled at the IAA Mobility show in Munich. 

The electric transporter is named "Re:Move" and its designed to support the rise in e-commerce and last mile delivery needs, particularly in urban areas.

The electric delivery vehicle was developed in a collaboration between automaker Polestar, German industrial designer Konstantin Grcic, aluminum producer Hydro and electric motorcycle pioneer CAKE. 

The battery-powered delivery vehicle measures just 29 inches (750 mm) wide and can carry a payload of 400 pounds. The rider stands to operate the Re:Move and it resembles a giant electric scooter. 

The narrow width was purposefully designed so the Re:Move transporter can travel in bike lanes. It's designed for either replacing delivery vans in urbans areas in order to reduce traffic, or as a transport option for rural areas lacking developed infrastructure. 

The Re:Move is built using a low-carbon aluminum chassis that includes an electric tilt mechanism, allowing the vehicle to ‘lean-in' to turns, which Polestar says improves stability and manoeuvrability. Turning radius is less than 23 feet, which is less than a car with an average turning radius of 35 feet. 

The Re:Move has a maximum speed of 15 mph and is powered by a 2.2 kWh battery powering an electric motor on the rear wheel.

Other features of the Re:Move include disc brakes and a shock absorbing rear swingarm to enhance rider comfort and to reduce fatigue. 

For added safety, the vehicle's lights are always powered on, which also improves forward visibility for the rider. Like a motorcycle, the Re:Move EV comes equipped with safety features such as brake lights. Optional turn signal indicators and a horn helps ensure that EV is visible to pedestrians and traffic.

The Re:Move project began as a design study in early 2021 with renowned industrial designer Konstantin Grcic. The initial collaboration expanded to include a wider set of designers, along with mobility and sustainable material experts from Polestar, CAKE and Hydro. 

The frame of the Re:Move uses unique composite covers derived from natural sources, which replaces the parts typically made of plastic.

Due to the pandemic, which limited in-person meetings, Polestar said the Re:Move project was a completely virtual collaboration. The participants used online tools to keep the project on track, including a series of regular meetings.

"The passion and expertise our partners have brought to this project shows the power of great design," says Thomas Ingenlath, Polestar CEO. "Electrifying vehicles is the start point, not the end game. Our engineers have proven that this kind of open collaboration will accelerate innovation and the shift to truly sustainable mobility."

In the future, electric vehicles like the Re:Move might be a common sight in cities across the world. The zero emissions EV offers the maneuverability of a bike with the added utility of a delivery vehicle with its 400 lb payload capacity.

Eric Walz

Originally hailing from New Jersey, Eric is a automotive & technology reporter covering the high-tech industry here in Silicon Valley. He has over 15 years of automotive experience and a bachelors degree in computer science. These skills, combined with technical writing and news reporting, allows him to fully understand and identify new and innovative technologies in the auto industry and beyond. He has worked at Uber on self-driving cars and as a technical writer, helping people to understand and work with technology.