Introducing the N55
Ever heard of Anhui Jianghuai Automobile Group Corp Ltd? Probably not. That’s the full name of a Chinese automaker, which is better known as JAC Motors. While neither name is very well known in South Africa, JAC is a massive company. It sold 524,000 vehicles last year (both passenger cars and commercial vehicles) – which was 15.63% up on 2020. The company's marketing network covers more than 130 countries worldwide, including 28 African countries.
The company – which was formed in 1965 – is based in Hefei, the capital and largest city of China’s Anhui Province. Since 2014, JAC has been manufacturing battery-electric trucks in China. Its performance in the battery-electric vehicle market last year was particularly impressive; it grew sales by an impressive 169.12%.
The company's range of electric truck platforms operates across the globe, ranging from 2.5 to 12 tonnes, offering flexible weight and wheelbase options to suit particular tasks on the same vehicle frame. The N55, first launched in China in 2019, is one such vehicle and it forms part of the company’s N-Series range of trucks.
The truck in a nutshell
The N55 EV is an emission-free 3.5-tonne truck suitable for a range of city operations. The first N55 EV in the country – and the vehicle that we drove – was acquired by logistics specialists AEVERSA, whose future vision of the logistics industry includes transitioning traditional transport fleets into EV fleets that consume renewable energy. AEVERSA is also selling these JAC trucks; they have sold five thus far.
Exterior
Our readers will be familiar with another N-Series – namely the extremely popular truck sold by Isuzu. Well, that’s what this N-Series – hailing from China, not Japan, of course – looks like.
Interior
The interior is fairly basic; it’s utilitarian and practical. The cab is 1 995 mm wide and provides ample space for three occupants and their gear. It also features a height- and telescopic adjustable multi-function steering wheel. An air-conditioner and electric windows are standard. In addition, it boasts JAC Motors' latest vehicle connectivity system with an 8-inch touchscreen display including Bluetooth, navigation and online music. The instrumentation on the dashboard is fairly simple but extremely clear and easy to read.
Drivetrain
Like most electric vehicles, this truck is a blast to drive. You turn the key, nothing happens (there’s obviously no noise or anything like that) but, once you dab the accelerator, you gather speed – fast. Acceleration is extremely smooth and there’s oodles of torque available, as we have come to expect from electric vehicles.
The N55 EV is powered by a liquid-cooled 96.77kWh capacity LFP battery. When standard European CCS2-Combo connections are used, the battery recharges to 80% capacity in only one-and-a-half hours and 100% in two hours.
The N55 EV reaches 200 km per charge and can scale up to 16.7 degrees with a load of 2.5-tonnes. It accelerates from 0 to 50 km/h in eight seconds and achieves a top speed of 90 km/h. Compared to conventional diesel engine trucks, the N55 EV is said to achieve a 50% lower fuel/energy cost and a 30% lower maintenance cost.
Transmission
As is typically the case with electric vehicles, the N55 has an automatic transmission that is effortless to operate. There are a mere three settings: Reverse, Neutral and Drive, so it’s really a no-brainer to use.
Safety
The N55 EV features a pedestrian warning system to keep the occupants, cargo and people using urban roads safe. An Anti-Lock Braking System (ABS) assists the driver in emergency braking situations, offering additional safety to occupants and keeping the load intact.
Verdict
The N55 – and indeed electric trucks – are still brand new to South Africans. Of course, there is some hesitation – not least of which is the power supply (AEVERSA can help with that). Then there is the other unknown entity, namely JAC Motors. Will its trucks last? What about resale value? We can’t answer those questions; the trucks are simply too new. What we can say however is that powering and running the trucks should be incredibly affordable (versus trucks with internal combustion engines). Also, there are some blue-chip companies in other countries that have purchased these vehicles. They’re sold in a number of export markets – from Guatemala to Australia, New Zealand and Brazil. Companies such as Pepsi, Carrefour and DHL have purchased them there.
But what about local back-up? We’re told that JAC Motors has 65 dealerships across South Africa and neighbouring countries to ensure that customers’ vehicles are maintained and serviced to company standards and to keep downtime to a minimum. Service dealers are reportedly fully equipped with highly trained technicians for complete servicing and repairs in a timely and satisfactory manner. The company offers 24-hour Roadside Assistance for peace-of-mind motoring.
There are only a few, if any, N55 EV 3.5-tonne trucks available via the dealer network. They retail at R865 218 (ex VAT). There’s also a new N75 EV 4-tonne that retails at R999 131 (ex VAT). Moving away from the purchase price, AEVERSA promises savings of up to 26% in TCO (Total Cost of Ownership) compared to diesel vehicles while JAC says the trucks will prove to be reliable. We shall certainly watch the development of this brand with great interest!
