Following the signing of an agreement between WEVC and electric commercial vehicle specialist, ETRUX, earlier this year, an engineering prototype was displayed at the Commercial Vehicle Show in Birmingham. The 3.5-tonne cab and chassis unit, complete with an ETRUX designed and built body.

The next step is for WEVC’s electric vehicle platform technology will be adapted by ETRUX into a range of models for the commercial vehicle market.

The eCV1 uses the company’s proprietary PACES architecture and modular electric vehicle platform. Developed to support commercial vehicle manufacturers, specialist vehicle converters and fleet operators in the transition to an electric future, PACES complies with ISO regulations and exceeds stringent European Small Series Type Approval safety standards. 

It’s ’cell-to-chassis’ system means batteries are integrated to the primary structure (rather than having a separate battery pack), optimising stiffness, minimising weight, and maximising payload. As a result, the clean sheet design means the eCV1 has none of the structural, weight and packaging compromises inherent in most electric LCV designs, many of which having been converted from ICE drivetrains and which are further constrained by traditional high volume manufacturing processes.

The eCV1 features a central driving position which allows a safer kerbside exit for the operator, whichever side of the road the vehicle is driving or parked on. The cabin can be configured as a
one-, two- or three-seater vehicle, with the large glass house providing superb visibility making the vehicle safer to drive and easier to manoeuvre and park.

A further benefit of the central driving position is that it has allowed the A-pillars to be repositioned inboard, thus reducing frontal area and drag, a key metric in designing an efficient electric commercial vehicle. The unique platform design creates generous full standing height headroom, facilitating easy ingress and egress and a ‘walk through cabin’ option that is ideally suited for urban delivery vehicles.

Neil Yates, CEO of WEVC said: “I’m delighted to reveal the WATT eCV1 here at the CV Show. Our unique approach to addressing the challenges facing the industry will enable the transition to mission-specific, yet cost-effective electric light commercial vehicles. We have embraced circular economy principles in the design, manufacture, and operation of our commercial vehicles to specifically align with increasingly stringent corporate and fleet operator sustainability responsibilities.  “The industry is rapidly moving to a zero-emission future, working with WEVC and our eCV1 platform will allow customers to benefit from electrified commercial vehicles tailored to exactly meet their needs. Our MoU partner ETRUX has built a fantastic vehicle body onto one of the shortest lengths of chassis that we will offer to show how compact the vehicle can be.”

For more information go to www.wattelectricvehicles.com

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If an employee is allowed to use a company car for personal use, it is classed as a benefit in kind by HMRC (BIK) and the employee pays tax based on the BIK rates.

Traditionally the rates have been skewed to encourage use of vehicles with lower CO2 emissions. As EVs do not emit CO2 new figures were introduced. The current BIK rate for Electric Vehicles is 2% (to be reviewed 2025) so if your company EV has a list price of £30,000 the annual taxable value would be £600. (Different rates apply in Scotland).

To further incentivise employers the government allows the full cost of an EV to be deducted from pre-tax profits and no Vehicle Excise Duty is payable. So switching to EVs saves the Employer and the Employee money.

Commercial EVs

The market for eLCVs (Electric Light Commercial Vehicles) is growing massively with some manufacturers reporting annual sales in the thousands. While still way behind diesel powered vans it is growing exponentially as more models are launched and the available range is improved.

Although companies such as Vauxhall, Renault, Nissan and SAIC Maxus have all released commercial vehicles running pure electric drivetrains everyone was waiting to see what Ford did with the Transit. They did not disappoint!

The king of the road for commercial users for many years, the whole Ford Transit lineup is the market leaders in most segments from owner-operator businesses to nationwide fleets.

Looking at the eTransit Custom it offers an expected 225mile range and the ability to also run tools and equipment from the vehicle’s main battery, making it perfect for Bob-the-Builder users. Recharging can be carried out via a standard domestic 7kW chargepoint – adding 20-30 miles range per hour – or via a 150kW rapid charger to recharge back to 80% in around 30-40 mins.

Competing with the Transit is the Vauxhall Vivaro. Currently the best-selling eLCV in the UK. The range is not quite as good as the Transit with between 145-205 miles depending on spec but it costs a fair bit less too.

The relative newcomer to the LCV sector and taking the market by storm is SAIC Maxus. Previously known as LDV the brand was bought by SAIC – the company which also owns MG – and offers the eDeliver-3,  eDeliver-9 as well as the T90 EV pickup.

The eDeliver-3 offers almost a ton of payload and 215miles range while the eDeliver-9 offers 1.3 tons of payload for a similar range. The ultimate choice for a lot of businesses will be the lease terms and any other offers at the time of purchase. Once The Ford Transit variants hit the showrooms other manufacturers are likely to offer good deals on their competing vans.

Electric HGVs

The possibility for a useful Electric HGV is getting closer by the day. At the moment there are a couple of specialist companies, such as VOLTA TRUCKS, which are developing pure electric HGVs from the ground up.

Volta has already gained a foothold into the UK market with the world’s first, purpose built 16-tonne truck. It has won a contract to be the sole provider for London’s prestigious Regent Street shops. To cut down on delivery vans and emissions the landlord managing the whole estate requires that deliveries are dropped at an out-of-town hub and delivered to Regent Street en-masse by their own trucks.

The 125mile range of the Volta is perfect for this kind of work and provides emission-free delivery.

DAF has a range of electric HGVs offering up to 300miles range. The infrastructure to support recharging of these will need to be installed at delivery hubs and other dedicated chargepoints but the future looks good for electric haulage.

VW ID BUZZ

The recently launched I.D. Buzz from VW is a bit of a strange beast. Following the success of the relaunched VW Beetle the I.D. Buzz hopes to trade on the legendary reputation and attraction of the old VW combi van and Camper, many millions of which were built over the decades.

VW stated they were making a new version of the van but offering it in both people-carrier and van options was unexpected. The VW T-series vans are widely used by businesses as commercial vehicles but probably more recognisable as camper vans and day vans with a myriad of outdoor equipment tied to the roof: bikes, surfboards, etc.

The Commercial variant of the I.D. Buzz is a stunning looking vehicle which still offers practicality for the user, including the proposed 258mile range.

While The T-series is still available, and with electric options, cost-conscious commercial operators might choose to stick with that, but those looking to make an impact and get recognised may consider the higher cost of the I.D. Buzz will be worthwhile.

The post Electric Vehicles for business and Commercial EVs appeared first on Hydra EVC.

It also offers new digital solutions for multi-drop deliveries, and cab and load compartment access. The cab is also a business hub, with 5G connectivity and a flexible workspace including smart features like a steering wheel that folds to become an ergonomic holder for laptops and tablets.

E-Transit Custom delivers payloads up to 1,100kg, a lower load floor with easier access, and maximum towing capacity of 2,000kg. Independent rear suspension and class-leading motor power help deliver a new level of driving experience for customers.

“Powered by the Ford Pro digital ecosystem, E-Transit Custom offers a genuinely revolutionary proposition to European van customers,” said Ted Cannis, CEO, Ford Pro. “These vital businesses contribute €786 billion to Europe’s economy, 5 and E-Transit Custom will give them a much-needed productivity boost as they transition to EVs.”

Ford Pro has also introduced the all-electric E-Transit, which has now sold more than 8,300 units, and E-Transit Custom is one of four new Ford Pro electric commercial vehicles coming to Europe by 2024. E-Transit Custom will be built by Ford Otosan in Kocaeli, Turkey, and is due to start production in autumn 2023.

E-Transit Custom’s 400-volt, 74kWh useable battery pack uses advanced 82Ah pouch cells shared with the Ford F-150 Lightning to deliver 12 per cent more energy density than the E Transit. The battery enables a targeted range of up to 236 miles . The battery’s direct to body mounting improves durability and reduces weight for optimum range.

Customers can choose from 100kW or 160kW (135PS or 217PS) motor power outputs to suit their needs, each offering a class-leading 415Nm of torque. The drive motor is fitted directly to the vehicle’s rear floor, removing the need for a dedicated subframe, and is rotated 90 degrees to maximise loadspace and reduce weight.

E-Transit Custom is the first-ever electric vehicle to use vapour-injected heat pump technology to heat and cool the cabin, fitted as standard to all vehicles. This new system is designed to deliver improved energy efficiency for optimum driving range.

E-Transit Custom features an energy-efficient braking system with one-pedal drive capability. The system blends friction braking with regenerative braking that harvests energy during deceleration to top up the battery for extra driving range. Drivers can stop the van without using the brake pedal when in one-pedal drive mode, 7 which drivers of the all-electric Ford Mustang Mach E liked and can make urban driving more relaxing and comfortable. Other available drive modes provide less deceleration to suit other driving scenarios. The system is designed to use the friction brakes frequently enough to prevent the discs from rusting or pitting.

E-Transit Custom’s 11kW AC three-phase onboard charger is capable of fully recharging the battery in 7.8 hours, so customers will be able recharge overnight after a shift. During busy days, they can track current charge state on-the-go using the FordPass Pro smartphone app.

E-Transit Custom also supports DC fast charging up to 125kW for a 15-80 per cent recharge in 41 minutes. A new charge profile front-loads the energy to enable quick, useful top-ups; in lab testing, the system delivered almost 24 miles of range in just 5 minutes using a 125kW charger. Ford Pro customers can access the Blue Oval Charging Network – Europe’s largest, with over 300,000 chargers and growing – and every E Transit Custom is sold with a 12-month complimentary subscription to access public charging via the Blue Oval Charging Network.

The HYDRA ZODIAC 22kW, HYDRA ECHO and HYDRA GENESIS can all deliver 11kW fast charging suitable for eLCVs like the Ford Transit Custom but require a three-phase electrical supply. For home charging the 7kW Hydra Zodiac is perfect for charging the e-Transit overnight at home,

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Paul Willcox, Managing Director, Vauxhall, said: “I’m proud to see Vauxhall continuing to lead the charge towards electrification of the UK van market, building on our success in 2021. With our full range of 100% electric vans, including the All-New Combo-e, Vivaro-e and All-New Movano-e, we’re confident that even more businesses will make the switch to electric in 2022 and enjoy all the benefits this brings, including zero emissions, lower running costs and an excellent user experience.”

The Vivaro-e – offering a WLTP range of up to 205 miles and a maximum payload of up to 1,226kg – has been awarded ‘Medium Van of the Year’ at the What Van? Awards 2022 and ‘Best Medium Electric Van’ at the Driving Electric Awards 2022 as well as ‘International Van of the Year 2021’.

In 2021, parent company, Stellantis announced a £100 million investment in Vauxhall’s Ellesmere Port manufacturing plant to transform the site for electric vehicle manufacturing and become the first Stellantis plant to produce a solely battery-electric model.

Vauxhall is one of the first manufacturers to offer fully electric versions of all its vans. By 2024, all Vauxhall cars and vans will be available with an electrified version and by 2028, Vauxhall is committed to only selling fully electric vehicles.

For more info visit www.vauxhall.co.uk

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