The aCar from EVUM Motors
Originally conceived for use in Africa and other emerging markets, the aCar has now made its way onto German roads. This sustainable electric commercial vehicle is the result of a research project at the Technical University of Munich—for agriculture and forestry, municipal work and more.
Sustainable e-mobility ‘Made in Germany’
Cost-effectiveness paired with environmental friendliness
The aCar impresses above all with its all-wheel drive and electric drive. As a ‘new kind of commercial vehicle’, it combines cost-effectiveness with environmental friendliness. Whether in agriculture, trade and industry, in municipal use or for demanding leisure applications: This robust and agile electric transporter is also a cost-effective and environmentally friendly alternative commercial vehicle for a wide range of tasks in this country.
Sustainable e-mobility for Africa
A research project of TU Munich
The story of EVUM Motors began as a research project at the Technical University of Munich. The goal was to build a simple, robust and fully electric commercial vehicle for Africa and other emerging markets. In the meantime, the project has developed into an independent company that has been producing the EVUM aCar in series since 2020.
Since its founding in August 2017, EVUM Motors has mainly focused on the German-speaking market. The company is headquartered in Munich and production takes place in Bayerbach near Ergoldsbach in Lower Bavaria. Starting in 2024, the aCar will go into international production beyond Germany, Austria and Switzerland—with an emphasis on developing and emerging markets, in line with the original idea.
Sustainability and environmental friendliness as a company philosophy for e-mobility
Simply constructed & affordable vehicles
From the very beginning, sustainability and environmental friendliness have been a driving force for EVUM Motors. Intentionally designed with simplicity and resource conservation in mind, the development process has always aimed for local and environmentally friendly production of vehicles close to the customer. The vehicle also needs to remain affordable so that e-mobility stays competitive—and ultimately prevails. That’s why EVUM Motors aims to bring a vehicle to market that contains only what is truly necessary. This means the electric transporter is affordable to produce and finance, even in the world’s poorest countries.
The cooperation between AL-KO VT & EVUM Motors
Solutions for sustainable e-mobility
EVUM Motors sees sustainability as a long-term strategic success factor—not just for itself, but also for suppliers and partners. For this reason, EVUM Motors only cooperates with renowned European manufacturers, including the AL-KO Vehicle Technology Group.
For the aCar, the German traditional company supplies the rear chassis—together with a drive-capable rubber suspension axle for straightforward integration with the e-drive and brake system from EVUM Motors. >Rubber suspension axles from AL-KO Vehicle Technology offer spring comfort comparable to that found in the automotive industry. This continuously optimised technology enables gentle and stress-free driving with the aCar.
Lightweight chassis from the AL-KO Vehicle Technology Group
Ideal for the aCar
The lightweight chassis from the AL-KO Vehicle Technology Group are particularly well suited for the aCar by EVUM. The variable concept behind the chassis allows battery packs to be integrated modularly while at the same time providing the greatest possible protection for the battery. Thanks to decades of experience and expertise, the chassis and axle are built to last—made, for example, with hot-dip galvanised steel for optimal corrosion protection.
“These are qualities that EVUM’s customers in the agricultural, logistics and municipal sectors particularly value. In addition, a planned longer wheelbase ensures open designs and thus high flexibility for body manufacturers.
The seats, the towbar and the LED light bracket come from the AL-KO Vehicle Technology Group—a collaboration with the companies Aguti and Sawiko,” says Manfred Schmid, Senior Business Development, Light Commercial Vehicles at AL-KO Vehicle Technology.
What managing directors & sales managers say about the cooperation
Statements from EVUM Motors & AL-KO Vehicle Technology Group
“The aCar is our contribution to making the world a little better. Deliberately simple in its design and geared towards conserving resources, we have already focused on a vehicle concept in the development phase that enables us to manufacture vehicles locally and in an environmentally friendly way directly near our customers. With this concept, we are contributing to making prosperity more equally distributed around the world and integrating people in developing and emerging countries into the economic cycle. We greatly appreciate having the AL-KO Vehicle Technology Group at our side on this journey,” say Dr.-Ing Martin Šoltés and Dipl.-Ing. Sascha Koberstaedt, founders and managing directors of EVUM Motors GmbH.
“Quality and premium value, the durability and robustness of our products, have always been a core part of our corporate DNA. Accordingly, sustainability is a topic close to our hearts as well. For example, in recent years we have experimented with a variety of materials including steel, aluminium and fibreglass-reinforced plastic—and have drawn the right conclusions from this. For us, it’s clear: steel is the best choice, from production all the way to recycling, offering by far the best CO2 balance. In this sense, we are very pleased to work together with EVUM Motors GmbH and the aCar to drive more electromobility, sustainability and environmental friendliness in the commercial vehicle industry. It’s also especially rewarding for us as a group to have both Aguti and Sawiko—two further subsidiaries of DexKo Global—on board,” says Karlheinz Spägele, VP Sales Commercial Trailer & Light Commercial Vehicle.
Watch the aCar in action in these videos: from agriculture and forestry to trade, industry and municipal operations. You can find the key data for the green commercial vehicle here. The AL-KO Vehicle Technology Group recently presented this joint project with EVUM at IAA Transportation.
