A ELECTRIC-powered bike van could soon be making deliveries in Oxford as more of the city centre is closed off to high polluting vehicles.

EAV, based in Heyford Park, Bicester, unveiled its 'EAVan' at the electric vehicle summit in the Said Business School this week.

The company has already agreed a deal with global delivery firm DPD who will begin trialling the unique new vehicles in London imminently.

Now the company want to expand further and are hoping to work with the likes of Deliveroo in future.

Company founder Adam Barmby said: "We see it as a cross between a bike and a van that can make deliveries within city centres.

"It's not going to replace a regular van in making journeys to the cities but once you are inside the centre, it's far more effective.

"In London, for example, bikes are the best way to travel.

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"Our EAVan is classed as a bike so you can park it at the side of the road and it can be used on cycle lanes.

"It can go at 15mph and has a range of 20 miles but you can also ride it without the battery."

Mr Barmby said the possibilities for the vehicle are endless and he foresees it being used by food companies and other delivery firms.

A fridge or coffee machine could be added on to the back to allow a takeaway business to operate directly from the EAVan.

Laundry service Oxwash, who collect customer's clothes on bicycles currently, have expressed an interest in using the EAVans in future.

Oxford City Council has announced plans for the centre of the city to become a zero emission zone by 2035, where all but the cleanest vehicles are banned.

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Mr Barmby, who has worked in the automotive industry, said he wanted to design a product for the future.

He said: "I think a lot of city centres are going to become pedestrianised at some point.

"The car is not the king in Oxford - the traffic is horrendous and something like this is a far better way of getting around.

"This is the way it is going. It's so fun to drive, it feels a bit like a Mini.

"It's faster than a bike so shouldn't hold anyone up and we're working on a set of rules for drivers that govern where they can park it."