LEVC presents delivery van with range extender

The London Electric Vehicle Company (LEVC) has now officially presented its semi-electric delivery vehicle, for which the order books are to be opened at the end of 2020. Deliveries are scheduled to start at the end of 2020.

Like the LEVC taxi, the electric van is equipped with an electric drive in combination with a combustion engine as a range extender and is expected to offer a fully electric range of almost 130 kilometres.

With the electric taxi, the compact delivery van not only shares the drive, but also the front reminds of the new edition of the iconic British taxi. The drive with an electric range of a good 130 km should enable the supplier companies to drive in “low-emission zones” in large cities, but with the three-cylinder petrol engine the distribution centres outside the cities are also within reach. LEVC states this with 377 miles (606 kilometers). The aim of the LEVC transporter is thus not only the last mile in delivery, but also the regional distribution traffic.

“Future urban transport is already changing rapidly and we have a golden opportunity to bring something new and disruptive to this market,” says Jörg Hofmann, CEO of LEVC. “There is huge demand for a medium-sized zero emissions capable light van and the solution we offer will be more than capable of meeting the requirements of a rapidly evolving green logistics market“.

However, LEVC is somewhat behind schedule with the project. Originally it was supposed to start in 2019, now it is scheduled for the end of 2020.

However, LEVC does not want to reveal detailed technical data until later. Since LEVC, like Volvo, belongs to the Chinese Geely Group, the drive technology of the Swedes will almost certainly play a central role – the range extender engine will also be offered in a Volvo XC40. The TX taxi is also sold in Germany, for example, via Volvo dealers.

The manufacturer is planning a complete range of electrified commercial vehicles after the van. According to LEVC, almost 2,000 electric taxis with range extenders are already in use, most of them in London.

levc.com, autocar.co.uk (delay)