Watt Electric Vehicle Company (WEVC) has revealed a lightweight chassis-cab offering, which it believes will provide the foundation for next-generation electric light commercial vehicles.
Innovative design and engineering from WEVC will, it hopes, lead to the manufacture of low-to-medium volume EVs, not only under its own brand but also for third-party companies.
Codenamed WATT eCV1, the 3.5-tonne cab and chassis unit platform has been designed for production volumes of up to 5,000 vehicles per year. Its flexible configuration, with a wide range of designs, allows customers to create an LCV that suits their needs.
The eCV1 is the first of WEVC’s products to use the company’s proprietary modular PACES (Passenger And Commercial EV Skateboard) architecture. Developed to support manufacturers, specialist vehicle converters and fleet operators in the transition to full electric, PACES complies with ISO regulations and European Small Series Type Approval safety standards.
The battery pack has been integrated into the chassis structure, dubbed the ’cell-to-chassis’ system, allowing the eCV1 to minimise weight while maximising payload. This design means that, rather than having to make the compromises seen when an ICE drivetrain is converted to electric, WEVC has a clean sheet to work from.
The eCV1 range features a central driving position for a safer kerbside exit for the driver. The cabin can be configured as a one-, two- or three-seater vehicle, with the large windscreen providing plenty of visibility for safer driving, manoeuvring and parking. The central driving position also means that the A-pillars are repositioned compared to a standard vehicle, reducing frontal area and drag — a key metric in designing an efficient electric commercial vehicle. This unique platform design creates generous full-standing height headroom, making entering and exiting the van easy. A ‘walk-through cabin’ option will be suited for urban delivery vehicles.
Promising to be lightweight and cost-effective, WEVC’s PACES architecture features bespoke aluminium extrusions and ultra-precise laser-cut and CNC-folded pieces which interlock and bond together, a technical innovation known as FlexTech. That translates to a chassis cab with a kerb weight from just 1,750kg, delivering class-leading payload and range possibilities of up to 290 miles.
Neil Yates, Founder and CEO of Watt Electric Vehicles, explains:
"I’m delighted to reveal the WATT eCV1. Our unique approach to addressing the challenges facing the industry enables the transition to mission-specific yet cost-effective electric light commercial vehicles. We have embraced circular economy principles in the design, manufacture, and operation of our commercial vehicles to specifically align with increasingly stringent corporate and fleet operator sustainability responsibilities.
“The industry is rapidly moving to a zero-emission future. Working with WEVC and our eCV1 platform will allow customers to benefit from electrified commercial vehicles tailored to exactly meet their needs.”
WEVC’s business-to-business services have included ‘white label’ build provision for third-party manufacturers and OEMs, in parallel with its own-branded commercial EVs.
Neil Yates continued:
“As the electrification of the transport sector accelerates, what we are seeing from customers is the need for a ready-to-go, sophisticated yet cost-effective electric commercial vehicle offering. With our first product, the eCV1, we have really re-thought what is possible, and over the coming months will reveal full details of the further unique features that make it a truly revolutionary light electric commercial vehicle.”
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