ARROW MOBILITY

Arrow One: the van is 100% electric of Brazilian origin

Arrow Mobility, from Caxias do Sul (RS), is launching the Arrow One. According to the startup, the van is 100% electric and national. In addition, the total gross weight (GWP) is 5.2 tons. The first presentation to the public was at Fenatran 2022. According to the company, the novelty attracted the interest of large shippers in the e-commerce sector.

According to Arrow Mobility, one of them is Localiza Pesados. According to the startup, the rental company ordered 100 units of the new model. Among the highlights, there are several solutions that facilitate embarkation and disembarkation. According to the company, it takes a delivery person just one minute to retrieve a package from the cargo hold and exit the van.

So it's only natural that Arrow One is intended for last-mile delivery operations. According to the founding partner of Arrow Mobility, Marcelo Simon, it is one of the fastest growing segments in the world. In Brazil, for example, there was an explosion in the sale and supply of this type of vehicle from the beginning of the pandemic, in the first quarter of 2020.

Dynamic organization...For this, Arrow One brings the so-called One Shot Loader. That is, something like a single-shot magazine, in free translation. In this sense, the structure of the shelves collaborates. Thus, the packages are placed in an orderly manner, according to the delivery schedule. Therefore, it is easy to find and remove cargo at stops.

In addition, the van is designed for the driver to also deliver. Thus, there is a kind of free diagonal corridor between the right-hand door and the cargo compartment. This solution is similar to that of Fedex delivery vans in the United States. A good example is the BrightDrop, 100% electric model from GM.

Arrow One has a range of 250 km...The Arrow One's cargo compartment has a capacity of 16.5 m³ and 2 tons of payload. According to the startup, the range reaches 250 kilometers. As well as the full recharge of the batteries can be done in less than three hours. So, these are very interesting numbers.

After all, Simon says that a similar conventional van drives an average of 100 km a day. In the meantime, it is possible to deliver 100 packages. According to the executive, Arrow One runs about 150 km a day. In addition, it allows 150 orders to be delivered.

According to him, the productivity gain is around 50%. However, with an energy cost 80% lower compared to a traditional vehicle. "For every R$ 1 spent on diesel, the electric vehicle spends R$ 0.16", says Simon.

Electronics improve efficiency... In addition, the startup offers an application that works as a virtual secretary. Through the use of artificial intelligence, it is possible to analyze various parameters of the vehicle. These include performance, preferred routes and travel time. You can also make voice calls and send text messages. With this, you can update information about deliveries in real time.

In addition, you can open and close the door through the smart wristwatch. The workstation resembles that of a minibus. However, the instrument panel is digital and configurable. Likewise, there is a multimedia system with an exclusive screen. Through it, you can control various functions of the van. Like the air conditioning flow (pictured above).

Focus on location...The wide windshield and more advanced driver's position contribute to good visibility. Also, there are cameras instead of mirrors, as in the Mercedes-Benz Actros truck. According to the startup, this improves driver and pedestrian safety.

According to Simon, Arrow One will be produced in Caxias do Sul (RS). However, he says that production capacity is still limited. Thus, the executive does not rule out the possibility of making partnerships with suppliers, in case demand grows.

About the price, Simon disagrees. He says that the values depend on each negotiation. In any case, the promise is that the first deliveries will be made in early 2023. And, to facilitate sales, Arrow intends to offer lines of credit. According to Simon, there are very advanced conversations with the main banks in the country.

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