Fully Charged Live event: Launch of new electric light commercial vehicles

In India, buses and trucks are becoming electrified, but light commercial vehicle segments are still lacking electric vehicles.

One of the major gaps remaining to be filled as the EV expands across multiple vehicle sectors is that of the electric light commercial vehicle (eLCV). In India, buses and trucks are becoming electrified, but light commercial vehicle segments are still lacking electric vehicles.

In, Australia, things are changing, and 2023 is shaping up. There will be a launch of an electric light commercial vehicle “eT60” at the fully charged event, which will be held in Sydney.

The Mercedes eVito van, LDV eDeliver 9, and Skywell EC11 vans are already available in overseas markets in the eLCV category. These vans are available in the 1.5 to 2-tonne. Shortly, the Ford e-Transit and the Renault Master e-Tech will be available.

Unfortunately, the most important portion of that segment has so far been missing: the 1t van and cab-chassis. Popular with small enterprises and municipal governments, the ranks of more affordable options have diminished in recent years, especially in ICE (internal combustion engine) versions. But there are signs that the wind is changing direction.

This weekend's Fully Charged Live event in Sydney will see the debut of a new set of eLCVs in this category. The initial range will feature a 1t light van and single cab light truck.

With its Skywell EC11 1.7t van and 12 seat bus already on the road, it is now planning to expand into the 1t market with offerings from Chinese manufacturer Victory.

The units on the show are left-hand drive and are only for evaluation and first Australian homologation - but they are a solid idea of what to expect when they arrive as ADR approved right-hand drive variants.

The displayed examples were brought in to solicit feedback on what features and adjustments potential purchasers would like to see in the final versions.

Specifications of EC2 van and EC1 light truck

The EC2 van and EC1 light truck have a 1000 kg payload for the tray and 965 kg for the van, a 41kWh battery with a range of 'approximately 250 km', and a central touch-screen for operating basic vehicle functions.

The interior is modest, with only two seats, but the cabin is surprisingly spacious for most. Although the steering column is not movable, the driver's seat includes all of the necessary modifications to accommodate a wide range of driver sizes and seating positions.

The van has a load volume of 4.8 cubic meters, and the single cab tray is long enough to accommodate lengths of up to 2.8 meters. The motor and reduction gear unit is mounted directly to the diff and drive the back wheels. Initially, only the van and single cab will be available, but depending on demand, the dual-cab may be added later.

As this category heats up through 2023 and into 2024, the highly anticipated Ford e-Transit bespoke 1t van will come early next year. While the van will have a longer driving range and more premium amenities than the Victory, it will not be priced competitively with the Victory.