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Our Story
관리자 / 2023-01-16
Q. Beginning of ECCOV
In 2009, five experts from each field convened for Hyundai Motor's in-house venture and started developing an electric bike named ECCOV.
We produced a prototype of two-wheeled electric bike, which was growing explosively at the time, but it could not be mass-produced due to various reasons.
Q. The reason to research and develop a cargo electric bike
Since then, we've been aware of a new market termed 'cargo electric bike’, which can emphasize the advantages of our technology. We combined Mando's chainless drive system with ECCOV’s specialty, modular frame construction, to create a 'cargo electric bike in the shape of a skateboard platform' in the electric vehicle market.
As the model we produced was exhibited at CES in 2019, the real challenge of wanting to see the new technology we started in use by consumers began in earnest.
Q. Initial achievements of challenges from R&D to production
ECCOV made a bicycle applied with a skateboard platform, a type of compact four-wheeled electric vehicle, based on the capabilities gathered while working on an in-house venture, and participated in overseas exhibitions in the year we became independent from Hyundai Motors.
As the model we produced was exhibited at CES in 2019, the real challenge of wanting to see the new technology we started in use by consumers began in earnest.
ECCOV made a bicycle applied with a skateboard platform, a type of compact four-wheeled electric vehicle, based on the capabilities gathered while working on an in-house venture, and participated in overseas exhibitions in the year we became independent from Hyundai Motors.
The global market environment and trend of e-bikes are flowing to automation, mass production, and modular design that we experienced while making prototypes, and ECCOV is proud to have a very leading position in these areas.
Q. Pursuing business strategy
As a start-up, ECCOV wanted to raise the question of whether the manufacturer-supplier-centered sales and marketing structure is also appropriate for future mobility strategies. In an era where the history of automobiles is shifting to eco-friendly vehicles, shouldn’t it be time to move on to a consumer-centered structure?
Since the bicycle is not subject to type approval, it is very easy to customize and has large expandability. You can purchase one vehicle and install modules according to the purpose, such as for cargo or passengers. We would like to experiment with the process of the entire cycle through a finished vehicle called a cargo electric bike in the process of manufacturing parts, assembling, and delivering the vehicle.
Q. Target markets and business areas
Our first focus is on the logistics area. Especially, in the case of courier service, we aim to deliver within the shortest time after receiving an order. It is difficult to use existing delivery vehicles in densely populated residential areas, downtown clusters, or apartment complexes. As a solution to this problem, cargo electric bikes are attracting attention.
ECCOV is currently the only company that can develop new options according to customer needs. In Europe, which has already been demonstrated, most of the land is flat, but in Korea, the environment is poor for using cargo electric bikes. So, we set the standard for all cargoes to be able to cross the incline of the underground parking lot.
It's roughly 20%, and the angle is about 7-9 degrees. We received a proposal for a scenario using a cargo electric bike from a customer looking for a way to improve a problem that is difficult to access with an existing delivery vehicle, and we conducted a demonstration test suitable for the customer's site.
Customers can stand our products anywhere, and when a delivery vehicle arrives, it can handle the volume in one or two round trips by loading it in a 1.5CBM cargo box. In fact, ECCOV's cargo electric bike is a kind of future electric vehicle, but it seems that there is no objection from children or residents, perhaps because of the friendly image of a bicycle with pedals.
Q. What does ECCOV think of a good cargo electric bike?
A good cargo electric bike, interpreted differently, seems to mean good logistics mobility. We believe that the flexibility of the hardware itself, such as the modular frame and optional determination of component specifications, can be provided as a service.
ECCOV’s cargo electric bike will be the only cargo bicycle that can fully implement the technology in a new business model that hardware is combined with service.
Q. The future that ECCOV dreams of
We use the same materials and equipment as automobiles to make cargo electric bicycles with special technology and effort, but what we are pursuing is “Mobility Justice”, focusing on universal justice for mobility.
There are many places with poor transportation services such as small towns, rural areas, and mountainous areas. ECCOV believes that everyone should have a universal right to mobility. We aim to even approach the way we cycle through cities of the future with cargo electric bikes. In terms of our grander goal, we hope to contribute to the vision of balanced national development through “Mobility Justice.”
Q. If you could introduce ECCOV's cargo electric bike in one sentence, what would it be?
"We deliver mobility justice to you"
Freedom of movement is the right you deserve.