We turn ideas into reality
eATV project in 2022,
In early 2019, following the successful launch of the ENVO electric SnowKart, the team set out to venture into the electric all-terrain vehicle market. The goal was to design and prototype a hub motor 4x4 standup e-ATV. This effort involved three design and prototyping iterations, culminating in the limited production of ENVO’s first e-ATV.
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ENVO NEXT MOVE, Gold winner: Alan Tam
ENVO NEXT MOVE was the inaugural global electric micro-mobility design competition, designed to engage the design community with ENVO as a brand for future innovations. Out of 382 submissions from 34 countries, Alan Tam's modular e-ATV concept won the Gold Prize. His design closely matched ENVO's vision, leading to Alan joining the team and initiating preliminary design discussions.
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Dreaming the perfect electric 4 wheeler
ENVO is a bootstrap product development company dedicated to creating products we truly believe in, without constraints, especially when it comes to innovation. The UPT concept emerged from numerous late-night brainstorming sessions and whiteboard discussions with our engineering and design team.
With a decade of experience serving micromobility users, we identified several gaps in the market for mobility products. We began by listing "wish-list" electric micromobility solutions for various scenarios while also exploring what could be achieved with our existing and emerging technologies. This included in-wheel motors, modular batteries, flat chassis platforms, modular suspension components, mechanical or steer-by-wire systems, and smart controls. The result was the birth of a modular, customizable 4-wheeler platform concept.
Initiating the self funded R&D
Although the e-ATV was launched, it was never deemed a fully satisfactory project. Consequently, we embarked on a self-funded R&D initiative, focusing on conceptual design and systematically researching modular solutions to make the product that solves problems with unique value propositions.
Iterating the ideas and design sketches
As the engineering team focused on developing modular components, Alan worked on design iterations to meet the team's goals. Choosing a design language that not only supported the modular concept but also appeared futuristic and appealing was crucial. We explored various design inspirations, from ATVs and automotive styles to home appliances and digital electronics. Ultimately, we decided that a consumer electronics design language best suited our vision for a vehicle tailored to future and younger generations. We named the new concept UPT, which stands for Utility Personal Transporter. This name encompasses a broad range of possibilities, from an e-ATV to micro cars, micro trucks, and other compact vehicles designed for transporting people and goods.
Designing and prototyping the UPT in 2023
By the summer of 2023, the team had progressed sufficiently to begin prototype and proof-of-concept manufacturing. The UPT prototype was prepared for its first concept launch to the media by November 2023.
Re-design and engineering the production version in 2024
The process of manufacturing and testing the prototype led to significant optimizations in engineering and manufacturing. This included enhanced modularity, more refined components, better-defined use cases, improved adaptability, and a smoother transition from small-scale production to mass manufacturing. The engineering team remained committed to the chosen design and design language, while the design team continuously advanced developments in UX and ergonomics, adding versatility to the design.
Creating an innovative design and engineering solution is inherently challenging, but sourcing, manufacturing, and assembling hundreds of parts within a tight timeframe adds another layer of complexity. We aimed to have manufacturable versions of the UPT ready for public unveiling at the Fully Charged show in Vancouver in September 2024. This ambitious timeline allowed us only eight months for design, engineering, sourcing, manufacturing, logistics, and assembly.
UPT Prototype (Assembling in 6 weeks)
The tight schedule allowed us just six weeks to receive all parts, check their fit, revise and complete assembly, and concurrently design the control and monitoring systems. Achieving this was an extremely ambitious goal, akin to a miracle given the complexities of engineering and manufacturing processes. However, this "miracle" came not by chance, but through the hard work of a talented and highly motivated team willing to make significant sacrifices to bring the UPT to life.
UPT Essential (basic stand-up ATV), UPT Standard (ATV with more complete fender and bumper rack setup), Golf Cart (a 4 seater community or neighbourhood vehicle), UTV (A noticeably larger chassis with side by side seat arrangement), and a Dump tilt truck were chosen to be the first customizations of the UPT for the showcase.
What is the next for UPT
We are maintaining our steady steps forward as we finalize testing and engineering for mass production. Just as with our previous ENVO products—such as e-bikes, snowbikes, e-scooters, and Veemo—we aim to deliver the UPT to market and generate the sales needed to drive our business forward. Our immediate next step is to launch pre-orders for the UPT on upt.envodrive.com. This will help us connect with real customers from diverse locations, gain insights into their expectations, and turn their purchase commitments into business and financial growth. For a self-sustaining business, customers are our top investors.
Simultaneously, we will pursue various B2B opportunities and explore investment and partnership possibilities. The UPT is now at a stage where we can confidently commit to delivery timelines and engage in product-based discussions rather than conceptual ones.
As with any new technology, building awareness takes time. We need to be persistent and resilient as we promote our innovative solution to industries and communities. We are open to collaborating with anyone who can support ENVO in shaping the future of mobility through partnerships and cooperation. We believe this journey holds significant opportunities and look forward to working with those who share our vision.
