VUF, acronym for FRENCH UTILITY VELO, is a robust, compact, modular and connected 3-wheel electrically assisted utility bike, specific to the transport of large loads and volumes in urban, industrial and off-road environments.
The adventure began in 2014. The VUF team started from the observation that the market's utility bike offering is unsuitable for the need to transport large loads and volumes and above all that this utility bike offering is the result of an approach going from design to need, whereas for the VUF team, it is necessary to go from need to the drawing board.
This is why VUF is dedicating these first two years, from 2014 to 2016, to collecting the need on the basis of an experience, a full-scale pilot project via: “La Recyclette”: a waste collection activity ( cooking oils) in the city center carried out via utility bikes, on behalf of a leader in waste management.
The objective is to draw up a sketch of the ideal solution for the Electric-assisted Utility Bike, by testing various concepts present on the market and noting the technical, geometric and design elements.
At the end of these 2 years, the VUF concept was born, the result of a collaboration between users (ourselves), bicycle transport professionals, cycle specialists and validated by occupational therapists: the idea was to secure and facilitate the use and work of a utility bike.
Two years of pilot project which also allowed VUF to assist and study the evolution of the city center delivery market and last km logistics:
In France :
- 450 million packages are delivered per year. With growth of 10% per year boosted by e-commerce, web-to-store, click & collect strategies with delivery requirements in D+1 and even in H+1
- these packages which are delivered by thermal or electric vehicles, freight traffic which represents 71% of city center traffic: sources of nuisance
These urban congestions, these noise and atmospheric pollution have forced institutions to put in place new rules in the city center:
- pedestrianization of 75% of major French metropolises
- investment in the development of cycle paths
- alternating traffic
- aid for purchasing a utility bike
So many incentive policies to encourage the use of soft freight solutions
The VUF prototype was created in 2017, and after a year and a half of meetings and tests with professionals in the sector, mass production was launched in July 2018.
Currently, the utility bike is considered one of the coherent alternatives for the mobility of loads in urban centers. In addition to its economic advantage, the utility bike is also much more productive (in terms of travel time and unloading of goods) in an urban environment than a thermal or electric utility vehicle.
Today to meet this demand for utility bikes, which has been growing by more than 30% per year for 4 years, there are around ten manufacturers in industrial mode with so-called large series production capacities: a few thousand units per year.
VUF is a newcomer to this market of utility bike manufacturers with an innovative positioning and approach. Two main innovations set the Tractor Bike VUF:
- Modularity: placed at the rear, the loading box is removable and can be replaced, if necessary, by a trailer, so as to be able to increase the loading capacity from 110 kg to 300 kg and the transported volume from 430 liters to 1,700 liters.
An economic advantage for the carrier/delivery/courier customer who can reduce their fleet of utility bikes with 1 VUF, 1 box and 1 trailer and respond to variations in their activity. Also a strategic advantage, since the reduction in the fleet of cargo bikes allows the carrier/delivery/courier customer to optimize and free up storage space in their warehouse.
- The pendulum: the VUF has a pendulum steering, called “Tilt”, which can be locked and unlocked manually, via a lever positioned on the handlebars, depending on the speed, of the area where the VUF is traveling. A feature that helps correct slopes, eliminate imbalances and provide better grip on the road when turning. Intuitive driving similar to that of a 2-wheel bicycle, even when carrying heavy and bulky loads.
In addition to the intellectual (via La Recyclette) and technical approach that sets VUF apart on the manufacturers' market, the industrial approach to the concept is also strategic.
VUF has established its manufacturing and assembly unit within the factory of its partner, an aeronautics manufacturer. The objective is to transpose the processes and requirements of aeronautics onto the cycle with lightweight, robust and easily maintainable materials, used in cutting-edge industry and which meet the intensive use that professionals will make of them.
The VUF concept currently has 10 people between the Toulouse head office, the sales offices in Bordeaux and the production/assembly site in Mauléon. A fleet of around twenty VUFs was marketed in 2018 for a test phase before deployment. Sold from €6,500 excluding tax, the VUF is a mobility alternative to transporting loads. It is aimed at professionals wishing to integrate last mile logistics into their activity, at communities acting for the sustainable mobility of their services and their users, at manufacturers seeking solutions for travel and transport of materials on their production sites, holiday resorts, sports areas… VUF is the solution.
The VUF, a new modular mobility for transporting loads:
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