ACM Adaptive shows City One, a simple, modular BEV for the city

ACM Adaptive City Mobility GmbH, a starting German manufacturer, shows the series version of its modular electric vehicle and the associated ecosystem created with funding from the German government.

The ACM City One can be converted into two simple steps to carry up to four passengers besides the driver or loads of up to 1 450 liters in volume (on a Euro pallet if desired). Furthermore, ACM points out that the electric vehicle can transport commuters during rush hour and then distribute goods in the city as a van, optimally using city space.

The aim is to deploy the ACM City One in an ecosystem of vehicle users, fleet operators, service providers, energy suppliers, insurers, and advertising partners to create affordable and sustainable mobility and logistics solutions worldwide.

Modular

The City One has a modular design, and the small vehicle (3,6 m) can reach speeds of up to 110 kph. In addition, a battery swapping system combined with intelligent home charging makes this battery-electric vehicle (BEV) very versatile in use.

The little van is particularly suitable for ride-hailing and shared mobility fleets, supported by integrating the fleets into a B2B pool sharing platform that optimizes vehicle utilization and ensures round-the-clock energy supply for the operators.

Small, light, and simple

The model positions ACM in a niche – namely that for small, light, and, therefore, simple and affordable city EVs that can be operated with low voltage due to their low weight.

“This means that they require little power and small, affordable batteries with a maximum of 20 kWh,” says Paul Leibold, founder, and CEO of ACM. “It means that these vehicles can be charged in a maximum of seven hours using the existing Schuko plug infrastructure – without any fast-charger – which saves a huge amount of money.”

“In addition, as a range extender, four small batteries can be swapped out manually anywhere,” he adds. Through the intelligent networking of an entire fleet, it would then be possible to ensure the supply of the electric fleet within the urban area through rechargeable batteries or the Schuko plug, which is exactly what fleet operators urgently need.

Digital platform

ACM foresees that each vehicle in the fleet will be connected to a digital platform that will use data-based services to help optimize the fleet’s potential. In creating this platform, the company is cooperating with the digitalization experts of the Porsche subsidiary MHP. The aim is to avoid empty runs and massively increase utilization.

Dr. Markus Kirchler, Partner and Member of the MHP Board of Management, is pleased: “Innovative and sustainable e-mobility is crucial for us and coming generations. Following MHP’s purpose ‘Enabling a Better Tomorrow’, we are proud to be a partner of ACM, providing our digital competence to make climate-friendly transportation excellent.”

Neumann on board

ACM has also announced that it has hired Dr. Karl-Thomas Neumann as an advisor. The former Opel CEO is an investor in ACM and is now expected to provide support in building the overall business model and fundraising.

Neumann was CEO of Opel from 2013 to 2017, and before joining Opel, Neumann held the position of CEO and Vice President of Volkswagen Group China. “At some point, you reach a stage in vehicle development and production where it doesn’t get any cheaper, no matter how much extra effort you put in,” Neumann states.

“The total cost of ownership (TCO) can only be further reduced for fleet operators and thus ultimately for the end customer if additional services and new revenue streams are developed. ACM achieves this by intelligently connecting the EV vehicle fleet,” he concludes.