Recently, Carver announced the arrival of an ultra narrow electric city vehicle. A 100% Dutch innovation that combines the advantages of a car and scooter in an unprecedented new driving experience. The Carver will be assembled in Friesland. The NOM and the FOM provided the right support for this on several fronts.
Carver develops, manufactures and sells innovative vehicles that enable smarter, faster and more sustainable travel. In April, the Amsterdam-based mobility company announced its first urban vehicle: the electric low-speed Carver. The canopied Carver falls into the Dutch scooter class, is 88 centimeters wide, 159 centimeters high and has a top speed of 45 km/h. The company is the successor to 's Gravendeel-based Carver Technology, which already achieved international fame in 2003 with the Carver One, a narrow three-wheeled motor vehicle with unique technology and ditto driving characteristics.
Patented tilt system
The Carver is an enclosed narrow vehicle (ENV) with technology that is unique in the world. With its patented tilting technology - a Dutch innovation - the Carver unites two previously incompatible worlds: the comfort and safety of a car with the convenience and maneuverability of a scooter. This will give commuters and city dwellers a smarter, faster and more sustainable alternative to the traditional car, motorcycle or scooter starting in October.
Strategic partners
In recent years, the tilting technology has been further developed and refined. To make the step to production and market, cooperation was sought with strategic partners. One of these was Velosophy BV, parent company of Babboe Bakfietsen, in which the Accell Group also participates, known for such products as Batavus and Sparta bicycles.
A strong partner with great expertise in electric transport, production, market and logistics. Recently, cooperation was established with the NOM, a powerful financial party and facilitating partner in the search for the right establishment location and the recruitment of assembly workers. Through the NOM, the FOM (formerly Doefonds Fryslân) was also involved as a partner with which the choice for Friesland could be definitively sealed.
Anton Rosier, CEO Carver: 'With NOM and FOM we have found ideal strategic partners to take the final step towards production and market. From Friesland, Carver can now gain momentum in the European market.'
Laurens Kruize, Investment Manager NOM: 'It is of course great to bring a completely new sustainable mobility solution to the Northern Netherlands with this assembly plant. I am convinced that the electric Carver will be a great success worldwide.'
Diederik Jongsma, Investment Manager FOM: 'Carver obviously fits perfectly in a province that is strongly committed to sustainable transport initiatives. Moreover, the arrival of the assembly plant will create substantial employment in the region.'
Test drives and pre-orders
Many people have already signed up to test drive the new Carver. The list of pre-orders is also growing steadily. Currently, the first Carver parts are being shipped from Asia to the Netherlands. They are intended for the zero series, with which the final quality checks and endurance tests will be carried out. Once these are completed satisfactorily, actual delivery and assembly will begin. This is expected to take place in early November 2018.