Amazon, also a partner for electric delivery vehicles

Amazon is testing a new four-wheel, pedal-powered electric delivery vehicle, built by Also, a spin-off of electric truck maker Rivian, with the aim of making urban logistics cleaner and more efficient. The vehicle, called TM-Q, combines the stability and cargo capacity of a small van with the compact footprint of an electric bike. Amazon plans to roll out TM-Q in several major cities as part of its broader strategy to decarbonize last-mile delivery.

TM-Q aims to solve one of the toughest challenges in urban logistics: moving heavy loads quickly in crowded city centers where trucks are inefficient and often undesirable. Designed to weave through traffic and park in tight spaces, the vehicle allows couriers to pedal with electric assistance or switch to full battery power on steep grades. The TM-Q also reduces emissions and noise that have made traditional vans the target of new low-emission zone regulations in Europe and the United States.

The project marks the first large-scale deployment of pedal-assist “microvans” by a global logistics company – a new compromise between cargo bikes and delivery vans.

Rivian’s spin-off on micromobility

It also began as an internal Rivian project to explore how the company’s expertise in electric vehicles could extend to micromobility. It became an independent company in early 2025 with US$105 million in Series A funding from Eclipse Ventures. Rivian retains a minority stake and founder RJ Scaringe serves on Also’s board of directors.

“Everything we learned from the Electric Delivery Van (EDV) program has been incorporated into this project,” Scaringe said at the launch event in Oakland, California. This program allows Amazon to manage both Rivian’s electric vans and Also’s new quads through a shared fleet management system – a logistical advantage for a company that already operates more than 25,000 Rivian EDVs worldwide.

All of Also’s hardware and software is built in-house, using lessons from Rivian vehicle architecture, but with a separate supply chain, management team and technology stack.

The TM-Q’s electronic pedal powertrain merges human input with the same kind of safety-tested control logic found in full-size electric vehicles, just scaled down for a bicycle. Torque and cadence sensors on the crank measure the force and speed with which the rider pedals. These signals feed a controller which, in milliseconds, determines how much electrical power to add from the rear hub motor. The harder the rider pushes, the more assistance the system provides, up to legally defined limits (250 watts continuous in the EU and more in the US).

“We’re applying automotive-level engineering to the machines that move on the city’s bike paths.” –Chris Yu, too

Since the transmission is entirely electronic, you can also adjust the assist ratio via software updates, a practice borrowed from Rivian’s EV tuning. The system also applies regenerative braking, recovering small amounts of energy to recharge the battery when slowing or stopping.

Power comes from a modular, swappable lithium-ion pack that’s light enough to carry by hand. Standard packs offer around 538 watt hours for a range of up to 112 kilometers (70 miles), while larger 808 Wh packs extend that range to 160 km (100 miles). Both versions support regenerative braking, which adds around 25% to the effective range. Charging uses USB-C PD 3.1, the latest major version of the USB Power Delivery standard. The updated charging modality allows for faster and more efficient energy transfer (in this case, up to 240W), with communication between the charger and the battery intended to avoid problems such as overheating and thermal runaway that trigger fires. It also states that the power supplies are designed for bi-directional power flow, meaning they can also serve as portable power banks.

We’re also developing battery swap stations so couriers can replace depleted packs in minutes instead of waiting to recharge, which is essential for keeping e-bikes moving during multi-shift operations.

The TM-Q includes a lockable cargo enclosure, logistics and load management software, and a 12.7-centimeter (5-inch) touchscreen for navigation and diagnostics. Amazon plans to serve quads through its network of more than 70 micromobility centers across North America and Europe.

Challenges of Scaling Pedal Assist Quads

Four-wheel vehicles with pedal assist have been attempted before, but scaling them has proven difficult. In the European Union, electric-assisted quad bikes under 250 watts are often considered bicycles, but in the United States they fall into a gray area between electric bicycles and light electric vehicles. Each state sets different speed and power limits, making large-scale deployment difficult.

Also’s approach is to adapt each regional configuration to match local micromobility laws. The company’s two main platforms exemplify this flexibility: the TM-Q, the quad built to offer near-van capacity but optimized for bike lane compliance, and the two-wheeled TM-B, a consumer-focused pedal-assist e-bike with an assisted maximum speed of 45 km/h (28 mph). The TM-B features open seating for passengers or shopping and can be configured with other body styles built on the same chassis.

The company says the TM-Q and TM-B are tested to automotive-grade reliability and safety standards, exceeding traditional e-bike durability benchmarks. Chassis and electrical systems undergo vibration, impact and water resistance testing equivalent to those used to certify full-size electric vehicles.

President Chris Yu also said the company doesn’t just build bikes with motors. “We’re applying automotive-level engineering to the machines that move on the city’s bike paths.”

The Amazon-Also partnership reflects a broader industry shift toward “right-sized” delivery fleets, deploying the smallest, most efficient vehicle for each route. Cities like London, New York and Paris are tightening restrictions on van entry and idling, making compact electric vehicles not only beneficial for the environment, but also necessary for regulation.

It also claims its TM Series vehicles are 10 to 50 times more energy efficient than local travel by car or SUV, supporting cities’ emissions reduction goals without requiring new road infrastructure.

Initial production of the TM-Q is scheduled for early 2026, with final assembly in Taiwan, home to much of the world’s high-end e-bike manufacturing. Several key components, including frames and subassemblies, are produced in the United States, it also specifies.

If TM-Q delivers on its promise, city streets could soon trade four tons of steel for four wheels and a set of pedals, reshaping last-mile delivery one bike lane at a time.