Good EV van on the cheap
Get used to seeing the LDV eDeliver 3 electric van’s friendly face, writes
Could a small van be about to shake up the local EV market by driving prices down in a segment that is likely to be the big area of growth for electrified vehicles in the very near future?
LDV’s local distributor is certainly hoping it will.
Great Lake Motor Distributors has landed a single evaluation model of the LDV eDeliver 3 allelectric van to test thewaters and has just announced that it will launch the EV here next year starting at $57,588 ($49,990 + GST).
This delivers a similar shift downwards in the e-van segment the way another Chinese vehicle – the recently releasedMG ZS EV – has dragged down the price of entry into the passenger SUV segment with its incredibly sharp pricing.
At the launch of the large Deliver 9 van, GLMD general manager Andrew Bayliss said: ‘‘The small e-van segment is the one we are really going to be stirring up next year when our eDeliver 3 arrives.’’
The eDeliver 3 is a purpose-built EV that uses a bespoke platform and significant amounts of lightweightmaterials, mainly aluminium and composite plastics, in its construction.
It comes in two different wheelbases. The 4555mm long short wheel base (SWB) version packs 4.8 cubic metres of load space and up to 905kg of payload and the 5142mm longwheel base (LWB) version can handle up to 1020kg in its 6.3 cubic metres of rear space.
Two different battery capacities will be available. The 35kWh battery offers up to 280km of range and the larger 52.5kWh battery will pack up to 400km in the SWB version, according to GLMD.
The electric motor has a rated power output of 40kW, with peak power of 90kW and peak torque of 255Nm, which is good enough to
propel the eDeliver 3 to 100kmh in 11 seconds. This may not sound fast compared to the glamour sports EVs, but is plenty fast enough for a small van.
And it is something you notice straight away when you nail the throttle in the eDeliver 3, with that characteristic big shove of torque all EVs possess off the line kicks in and the small van leaps forward.
This happens after a slightly strange ritual that involves making sure the van is in neutral (it can be shut off in drive, reverse or neutral) and your foot is on the brake before you twist the key to fire it up. yes, that’s right – twist the key. No, we have no ideawhy either...
The power comes on smoothly and strongly and the eDeliver 3 feels wonderfully sprightly and responsive around town.
The light steering is beautifully accurate and the turning circle is astonishing.
The lightweight construction is evident when you start looking around the outside of the eDeliver 3 – every front panel is made from composite plastics (including the bonnet, which can lift right off), while the rest of the body is largely aluminium.
The interior is open and airy, and is filled with hard plastics (which you would expect) and dominated by a large touchscreen infotainment system (which you might not). It is a pleasantly comfortable place to spend time in.
GLMD’s negotiations over pricing with LDV’s parent company SAIC (Shanghai Automotive Corporation) Motor secured the strong opening price for the small van.
‘‘Negotiations with the manufacturer have gone extremely well, and we couldn’t be happier with the outcome,’’ said GLMD’s managing director, Deon Cooper.
‘‘At this price, we expect sales will be brisk. New Zealand is ready for awell-priced EV van of this size, with courier and delivery drivers, tradies, government and fleet buyers all having an appetite for a well-priced, zero-emission light commercial vehicle such as this.
‘‘Inquiry has already started rolling in, with names being taken for the eDeliver 3when it arrives here early next year,’’ said Cooper.
Initially only the SWB version of the e Deliver 3will be offered. The 35kWh battery pack version will open the range at $49,990 plus GST ($57,588), while the 52.5kWh version adds $5000 to the price, bringing it to $54,990 plus GST ($63,238).
The eDeliver 3won’t be LDV’s only e-van, as it already offers an electric version of its V80 and will sell an electric version of its new Deliver 9, unsurprisingly called the eDeliver 9, next year as well.
‘‘New Zealand is ready for a well-priced EV van of this size, with courier and delivery drivers, tradies, government and fleet buyers all having an appetite for a well-priced, zero-emission light commercial vehicle such as this.’’
Deon Cooper
GLMD’s managing director