Prodrive Advanced Technology is to develop a zero-emission last-mile vehicle concept with the help of government funding.

The EVOLV Last Mile vehicle platform demonstrator will debut at next year’s Cenex-LCV show

The engineering and manufacturing firm is one of 12 recipients to receive a share of a £22.7m million investment in “fast-start projects for the accelerated development of automotive products with a potential route to market”.

The award follows its submission of its EVOLV project into the 2023 Advanced Route to Market Demonstrator competition (ARMD2) from the Advanced Propulsion Centre UK.

The business said its EVOLV Last Mile vehicle platform demonstrator will provide a cubic load capacity comparable to N1 category vehicles in an L7 package, expected to bring a strong total cost of ownership proposition to fleet operators.

Prodrive’s Advanced Technology division, in collaboration with Astheimer Design, will now complete and deliver its EVOLV vehicle concept within 12 months, supported by £11m in government support through the APC matched by industry funding.

The demonstrator will be shown at the 2024 Cenex-LCV show for low-carbon vehicles.

Dr Iain Roche, CEO of Prodrive Advanced Technology, said: “We are delighted to receive this funding from the APC to accelerate the development of our EVOLV Last Mile vehicle concept that offers a zero-emission L7e platform with a market-disrupting total cost of ownership proposition.”

Further details of the EVOLV project will be announced in 2024.