Utilizing electric cargo bikes for flightline maintenance support to provide cost effective readiness and improve warfighter health

The USAF will not meet operational imperatives and strategic capabilities relying on current transportation form factors. Lack of available and sufficient options requires flightline maintainers and support specialists to walk long distances with their equipment or rely on vehicles that have limited flexibility and availability, burdensome and costly maintenance, and poor reliability and performance. The USAF is also struggling to implement the mobility equipment required to support Agile Combat Envelopment, which requires flexibility and resilience in the face of emerging threats that demand rapid response and distributed operations in austere locations. Current equipment is deficient in supporting ACE operations due to their size, vulnerability, and inflexibility. Finally, the USAF is not meeting NTV electrification goals due to the required charging infrastructure, mission considerations, cybersecurity requirements, and lack and cost of available models. Fleet Cycles manufactures the PEM-V, an electric cargo bike that supports multiple operational imperatives and strategic capabilities. Our Phase II proposal will test and prove the PEM-V will increase mission capable rates, decrease aircraft turnaround, and reduce costs. This will lead to a more resilient, sustainable, flexible and effective USAF. Fleet Cycles is advancing innovation in US small business manufacturing and renewable energy systems, priorities for SBIR agencies.