The TM-Q is a four-wheel e-bike with a small van’s capacity
Willie Jones covers transportation for IEEE Spectrum and the history of technology for The Institute.
The T-MQ, built by Rivian spin-off Also, is a four-wheel pedal-assist vehicle designed to replace delivery vans in crowded urban
Amazon is piloting a new four-wheel, pedal-assist electric delivery vehicle built by Also, a spin-off from electric-truck maker Rivian, in a bid to make city logistics cleaner and more efficient. The vehicle—called the TM-Q—combines the stability and cargo capacity of a small van with the compact footprint of an e-bike. Amazon plans to deploy the TM-Q in several major cities as part of its broader strategy to decarbonize last-mile delivery.
The TM-Q aims to solve one of the toughest challenges in urban logistics: moving heavy loads quickly through crowded city centers where trucks are inefficient and often unwelcome. Designed to slip through traffic and park in tight spaces, the vehicle lets couriers pedal with electric assist or switch to full battery power on steep hills. The TM-Q also cuts down on the emissions and noise that have made traditional vans a target of new low-emission-zone regulations across Europe and the United States.
The project marks the first large-scale deployment of pedal-assist “micro-vans” by a global logistics company—a new middle ground between cargo bikes and delivery vans.
Also began as an internal Rivian project to explore how the company’s EV expertise could extend into 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 sits on Also’s board.
“Everything we learned from the Electric Delivery Van (EDV) program was poured into this project,” Scaringe said at the launch event in Oakland, Calif. That 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 already operating more than 25,000 Rivian EDVs worldwide.
All of Also’s hardware and software are built in-house, using lessons from Rivian’s vehicle architecture but with a separate supply chain, leadership team, and technology stack.
The TM-Q’s pedal-by-wire powertrain merges human input with the same kind of safety-tested control logic found in full-size electric vehicles—just scaled down for a bike. Torque and cadence sensors at the crank measure how hard and how fast the rider pedals. Those signals feed a controller that, within milliseconds, determines how much electric power to add from the rear-hub motor. The harder the rider pushes, the more assist the system provides—up to legally defined limits (250 watts continuous in the EU and higher in the U.S.).
“We’re applying car-level engineering to machines that move through city bike lanes.” –Chris Yu, Also
Because the drivetrain is fully electronic, Also can tune the assist ratio through 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, light enough to be carried by hand. Standard packs offer roughly 538 watt-hours for up to112 kilometers (70 miles) of range, while larger 808 Wh packs extend that to 160 km (100 miles). Both versions support regenerative braking, which adds about 25 percent to 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, more efficient energy transfer (in this case, at up to 240 W), with communication between the charger and the battery meant to prevent issues such as overheating and thermal runaway that trigger fires. Also says the power packs are designed for bidirectional energy flow, meaning they can double as portable power banks.
Also is developing battery-dock swap stations so couriers can replace depleted packs in minutes instead of waiting for recharging—key to keeping the e-bikes in motion during multi-shift operations.
The TM-Q includes a lockable cargo enclosure, logistics and charging-management software, and a 12.7-centimeter (5-inch) touchscreen for navigation and diagnostics. Amazon plans to service the quads through its network of more than 70 micromobility hubs across North America and Europe.
Four-wheeled pedal-assist vehicles have been attempted before, but scaling them has proven difficult. In the European Union, pedal-assist quads under 250 watts often qualify as bicycles, but in the United States, they fall into a gray zone between e-bikes and light electric vehicles. Each state sets different speed and power limits, complicating large-scale deployment.
Also’s approach is to adapt each regional configuration to fit local micromobility laws. The company’s two main platforms illustrate this flexibility: the TM-Q, the quad built to provide near–cargo van capacity but optimized for bike-lane compliance, and the two-wheeled TM-B, a consumer-focused pedal-assist e-bike with a top assisted speed of 45 km/h (28 mph). The TM-B has open seating for passengers or groceries and can be configured with other body styles built on the same chassis.
The company says both the TM-Q and TM-B are tested to automotive-grade reliability and safety standards, exceeding traditional e-bike durability benchmarks. Frames and electrical systems undergo vibration, impact, and water-resistance testing equivalent to that used to certify full-size EVs.
Also president Chris Yu says the company is not just building bikes with motors. “We’re applying car-level engineering to machines that move through city bike lanes.”
The Amazon–Also partnership reflects a broader industry shift toward “right-sizing” delivery fleets—deploying the smallest, most efficient vehicle for each route. Cities including London, New York, and Paris are tightening restrictions on van access and idling, making compact electric vehicles not just environmentally beneficial but also regulatory necessities.
Also claims its TM series vehicles are 10 to 50 times as energy-efficient as local car or SUV trips, 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, says Also.
If the 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.
Willie Jones is an associate editor at IEEE Spectrum. In addition to editing and planning daily coverage, he manages several of Spectrum's newsletters and contributes regularly to the monthly Big Picture section that appears in the print edition.
