Envirowheels introduces fully electric panel van
Over the last few weeks news regarding fully electric panel vans being tested in South Africa has been quite common. JAC has tested light and heavy duty trucks, Aversa has been testing its electric panel van and now Envirowheels has released information on its offering which was recently put to a 5000km test. Here is what you need to know.
With the price of diesel reaching all-time highs and another increase on the horizon, fleet owners are in desperate need of alternative solutions to cutting costs. While using CEVs in transport fleets is still a new concept in South Africa, local transport operators are quickly warming up to the idea because of the massive savings in operational costs. CEVs also offer additional benefits that improve fleet management efficiencies and reduce a fleet's total cost of ownership.
EnviroWheels plans to launch its battery-electric panel van in the coming weeks and its one-tonne forward-cab bakkie early in 2023. The company is currently testing its panel van, analysing data to determine the ranges and energy consumption in real-world South African conditions.
What are the benefits?
A CEV fleet is the most cost-effective mode of transport, and it simultaneously reduces an organisation's emission footprint and boosts its green credentials. This inspired EnviroWheels to align with several international EV partners to introduce a range of CEVs that best fit the needs of transport operators and last-mile delivery conditions in the local market.
About the van and charging it
The DFSK EC35 battery-electric panel van will lead EnviroWheels' charge in the local market. It is practical and particularly manoeuvrable in tight parking and load bay areas. It offers a payload of 1 015 kg and a large loading space of 4.8 m³. The cargo area's dimensions are 2 530 mm (L) x 1 440 mm (W) x 1 270 mm (H).
Charging the EC35's battery will cost as little as R56.50 and yield a travel distance of up to 270 km, depending on load and traffic conditions. Although transport operators plan their fleets' trips so that vehicles can be recharged at their bases, it is also possible to recharge EVs at more than 300 fast and rapid public EV charging points across South Africa. With a fast charger, the battery could be charged from zero to 80 percent in less than an hour, offering a 200 km range.
5200km in a electric van
Battery-electric panel vans are used for last-mile deliveries and are usually less used on the open road. However, Enviro Automotive was adamant about ensuring that its battery-electric delivery vehicles were exposed to different conditions across the country. This included hot and cold weather, heavy rain, mountain passes and city driving.
The purpose of this trip was to visit twenty-seven GridCar DC Fast charging stations en route to Durban, the Western and Eastern Cape, as part of the company's annual hardware and software maintenance programme. The company manages more than 300 charging stations across South Africa. The trip started from GridCars' head office in Roodepoort and took nine days to complete.
What’s next?
The EC35 will be launched in the market in January. The first EC31 one-tonne bakkie arrived in the country a few weeks ago and is currently being tested by the company and various transport operators. The EC31, which will be launched in the second quarter of 2023, shares the same platform and technology as its panel van sibling and offers a payload of 1 020 kg.
