CV Show 2023 roundup
This year’s CV Show at Birmingham in April gave several manufacturers an opportunity to introduce new product, as John Kendall found out
Watt Electric Vehicles (WEVC) >>
Watt Electric Vehicles (WEVC) gave its eCV1 electric van its global debut at the CV Show. “We have a bonded aluminium chassis and we integrate the batteries into that chassis in a different way to most companies, which allows us to be very efficient with the way the batteries are packaged in the chassis”, Watt Electric Vehicles CEO Neil Yates told Van Fleet World, “That's very good for the stiffness and crash protection of the vehicle and really contributes to the overall lightness of the vehicle.”
Earlier this year, the company signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with electric CCV specialist ETRUX. The next step is for WEVC’s EV platform technology to be adapted by ETRUX into a range of offerings for the CV market.
The vehicle has been designed around a 3,500kg gross vehicle weight or 4,250kg GVW platform. According to Yates, the 3,500kg GVW version offers a payload of 1,750kg or 2,500kg for the 4,250kg GVW variant. “Obviously the 4,250kg GVW is a temporary derogation. As the government makes its final decisions about what to do with the derogation and the associated driver licencing, we can configure the final offering to maximise the opportunity within the legislative framework.”
WEVC reckons on a good range for the newcomer, “We've worked really hard on the overall vehicle to try and contribute to maximising the range. So aerodynamic efficiency has had a lot of attention put into it. Part of the reason for the central driving position is that it allows us to pull the A-pillars in to reduce the frontal area of the vehicle. Our expectation and testing is validating it in most conditions. Operators will see a genuine range of 200 miles plus”, reckons Yates.
WEVC will be targeting vehicle converters with the eCV1. `If a converter needs a specific wheelbase length or specific body mounts engineered into the chassis cab, WEVC will be able to do that for them. The company will also have a range of panel van variants when production begins in 2025.
eCV1 Prototype
“For specialist vehicle conversions, lots of fleet operators who have converted vehicles will have trusted partners that they use already”, says Yates, “So in that case we will be supplying the base vehicle to their converter and the converter will then do the work for the end user. We have a variety of ways of getting the vehicle to the end user, depending on what the fleet user requirement is.”
The eCV1 has been designed and will be built in the UK. The company has a research and development site in Cornwall and can produce up to 500 vehicles per year. The company will also establish a series manufacturing facility to manufacture 5,000 units per year, which would be a viable production number for the company, says Yates. The location of the plant has not yet been finalised and the company is in negotiations with a number of local enterprise partnerships. The location will be finalised by the end of 2023, the vehicle plan will be established in 2024 with production due to start in 2025.
Maxus E Deliver 7 >>
Maxus took the opportunity to unveil the eDeliver 7 van which will slot in between the company’s eDeliver 3 and eDeliver 9 models. The van will be available in three different panel van body configurations: L1H1, L2H1 and the high roof L2H2. This will offer cargo volumes of 5.9m3, 6.7m3 and 8.7m3 respectively. Payload will be up to 1,200kg. The model unveiled at the CV Show was an L2H1 variant. Maxus director, Mark Barrett, told VFW that production is due to begin in August, with a UK launch expected towards the end of 2023.
“eDeliver7 production is due to begin in August, with a UK launch expected towards the end of 2023.”
Maxus E Deliver 7 interior
E Deliver 7 will be offered with either a 77kWh or 88kWh battery pack, which will provide a range of up to 226 miles (WLTP combined). The van will offer three driving modes: Eco, Normal and Power. Safety features will include blind spot detection, lane change assist, driver fatigue monitoring, front and rear parking sensors and 360-degree cameras. Standard features will include a 12.3-inch touchscreen and Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.
