A piece of electric vehicle history is now up for grabs on eBay, offering enthusiasts a chance to own one of the few remaining Arrival electric vans. This story, reported by Engadget, sheds light on the rapid rise and fall of the once-promising British EV startup.

From Billions to Bankruptcy: Arrival’s Short-Lived EV Dream

Arrival, founded in 2015, aimed to revolutionize the delivery vehicle sector much like Tesla did for passenger cars. The company’s ambitious plans included a massive 10,000-vehicle order from UPS for their iconic brown vans. However, Arrival’s fortunes quickly reversed, leading to its eventual downfall earlier this year.

The Last of Its Kind: Arrival Gamma Van on Auction

The eBay listing, posted by a former Arrival employee, claims this vehicle is “the only known running and fully operational Arrival Gamma Van available.”

Purchased from the company’s liquidation auction in June, the van represents one of the 25 prototypes built by Arrival in 2021 for testing purposes.

Features and Current Bidding

The Arrival Gamma van boasts:

Sliding electric doors
Touchscreen dashboard interface
Intact shelving system

As of Friday, the highest bid stood at £5,600 (approximately $7,368), with the seller suggesting its potential use as a “campervan.”

The Fall of an EV Giant

Arrival’s rapid decline is a cautionary tale in the fast-paced EV industry. By January 2023, the company’s funds had dwindled to $205 million, forcing it to narrow its focus to the US delivery market and abandon plans for buses and rideshare vehicles. Despite these efforts, Arrival couldn’t survive and shut down operations the following year.

Broader Impact on the EV Delivery Sector

While Arrival’s story ended in disappointment, other companies continue to push forward in the electric delivery vehicle space. Amazon has partnered with Rivian for 100,000 electric vans by 2030, while Ford has introduced its E-Transit van for both consumer and commercial use, including adoption by major retailers like Walmart.

EVXL’s Take

The auction of this Arrival van prototype serves as a bittersweet reminder of the challenges facing EV startups. Despite Arrival’s failure, the electric delivery vehicle market continues to grow, as evidenced by recent developments covered in our Tesla category. The industry’s evolution highlights the importance of sustainable business models alongside innovative technology in the push for cleaner transportation solutions.

We’d love to hear your thoughts on Arrival’s legacy and the future of electric delivery vehicles. Share your perspective in the comments section below.

Photo courtesy of eBay/constablergt