The new LCV light commercial variant of the range extender electric taxi has made its European debut at an exclusive preview event in Frankfurt, Germany.
Designed to meet rapidly increasing European demand for green, electrified commercial transport, the zero-emission capable LCV van is brought to us by LEVC, part of the Geely group, owners of Volvo.
Based on the same architecture and proven e-City range extender technology as LEVC’s TX Taxi, of which 2500 have now been sold, this second vehicle from LEVC will give European operators and drivers huge amounts of flexibility with an electric range of 129km (80 miles) and a combined petrol and EV range of 607km (377 miles).
Targeting those who travel around 161km (100 miles) a day, LEVC’s LCV will offer ‘distribution to door’ – not just last mile – providing the link between out of town depots and city centres, capable of collecting goods outside of a major city in range extender mode, before switching to EV mode in an urban ultra-low emissions zone. This is currently a sector of the market dominated by one tonne medium-sized diesel vans.
LEVC’s success with the TX Taxi has proven that taxi drivers have become converts of green logistics, with huge benefits in terms of cost savings, while for commercial vehicle operators the e-City range extender technology takes away range anxiety once and for all.
LEVC CEO Joerg Hofmann said:
“Future urban transport is already changing rapidly and we havea golden opportunity to bring something new and disruptive to this market. There is huge demand for a medium-sized zero emissions capable light van and our LCV is the perfect solution to the green logistics trend.
Full details of the LCV will be revealed closer to its official launch in 2020, but LEVC can reveal that it will target best-in-class total cost of ownership, thanks to savings in fuel and servicing over conventional ICE vans. It will also have durability guaranteed: LEVC has tested the new van to the world’s highest durability standards, adapting its million-mile TaxiDur test for the new light commercial vehicle.
As standard, it will have class-leading safety, featuring the latest active safety systems from some of the world’s leading technology providers, along with the world’s highest crash safety standards. It will be better for drivers too, benchmarked against premium MPVs on comfort and ergonomics with a cabin designed around the needs of the van driver (and passenger). In addition to this, the LCV will feature the class-leading turning circle synonymous with the iconic black cab.
Focus on Europe and beyond
New products such as the LCV and TX Shuttle will create further growth in Europe, alongside the established TX Taxi. By 2022, LEVC expects that 70 percent of the vehicles built at Ansty will be for the export market while the remaining 30 percent will service the UK. A vital element of this export strategy is the establishment of a central European sales office, based in Frankfurt and, with the strong support of Volvo Germany’s dealer network and finance and insurance infrastructure, LEVC is building an established network to cover the growing demand from existing and future customers.
LEVC manufactures the world’s only purpose-built, range extended electric taxi. Since 2014, its parent company Geely has invested £500m in a production facility in Ansty, Coventry, where the new LCV will be made alongside the TX.
Stephen Brown
The Founder of driveEV. A driving and new technology fan enjoying learning all about the future of motoring. I drive a BMW i3.