VAN TAKES A LOAD OFF

Here we have an interesting newcomer. If you live in London or Manchester you’ll probably recognise it immediately as a van version of LEVC’S hybrid taxi.

Just to remind you, the TX taxi – and this new VN5 van version of it – uses a combination of petrol engine and battery electric power, with the petrol engine acting as a generator. On battery power alone the VN5 will have a range of 58 miles and, with the engine, a combined range of 300 miles.

The VN5 has an impressive 50kw charging capacity and can be fully charged in 30 minutes. Like its taxi brother, the van has a tight turning circle of 10.1m, which makes it perfect for city deliveries. Gross payload is 830kg and the load bay can easily take two Eurosize pallets. Production of right-hand drives starts later this year.