Canada Unveils 18-in-1 Modular EV Platform UPT

Imagine an electric vehicle that can shuttle guests around a resort as a golf cart, be converted into a construction-site logistics vehicle, and even be upgraded into an autonomous patrol platform in the future. This vision of a truly multi-purpose electric vehicle is now being brought to life by Canadian company ENVO Drive Systems.

ENVO Drive Systems has officially unveiled its Utility Personal Transporter (UPT), a modular electric mobility platform designed for light-duty applications. According to the company, the platform supports up to 18 base vehicle configurations, with countless additional combinations available through optional equipment. The UPT can be configured for a wide range of applications, including low-speed vehicles, golf carts, cargo trailers, all-terrain utility vehicles, and industrial transport vehicles.

The UPT is built on a unified chassis architecture based on the modular "skateboard chassis" concept commonly used in modern electric vehicles. However, its size and payload capacity are significantly greater than those of consumer-grade platforms. Customers can choose from preconfigured models or build a vehicle from scratch using ENVO's online 3D configurator, selecting everything from chassis layout, drivetrain, battery capacity, and steering system to wheels and tires, seating or cargo-body configurations, bumpers, charging modules, and a wide range of accessories.

ENVO founder Ali Kazemkhani explained: "Traditional manufacturers build one vehicle for one specific purpose. UPT is a platform that allows customers to build exactly what they need today and adapt it as their requirements evolve tomorrow." Developed over four years, the project aims to solve two major challenges facing niche electric vehicles—high production costs and limited manufacturing scale. By mass-producing a shared chassis while allowing customers to customize the final vehicle for specific applications, ENVO seeks to maintain specialized functionality while keeping costs under control.

Depending on the selected configuration, the UPT platform may be equipped with modular battery packs, optional all-wheel drive, single-wheel traction control, low-speed creep mode, over-the-air (OTA) software updates, smartphone connectivity, external power outlets, solar charging readiness, IP67-rated protection, and built-in hardware provisions for future remote operation or autonomous robotic deployment.

The UPT is expected to start at approximately US$8,000, with fully equipped versions priced at around US$12,000. Designed for a broad range of industries and applications, it is suitable for farms, resorts, warehouses, airports, municipal fleets, construction sites, university campuses, last-mile delivery services, recreational facilities, security patrol operations, and even mobile coffee businesses.

The UPT platform is now available for pre-order. Mass production is scheduled to begin in late autumn 2026, with the first customer deliveries expected in early 2027. Industry observers believe that if the platform proves easy to use, demonstrates long-term durability, and gains broad acceptance for its modular customization concept, it could redefine the way light-duty specialty electric vehicles are designed, manufactured, and deployed.