LEVC (London Electric Vehicle Company), makers of the highly successful range-extender TX taxi, have announced their new van based on the same platform. The VN5,  the name stands for 'van' and the payload capacity of 5 cubic metres, will be built at the company's plant in Coventry, with first deliveries planned towards the end of 2020. 

Crucially, it will comply fully with the toughest emissions standards required for the Ultra Low Emission Zone (ULEZ) & Low Emission Zones (LEZ) as the TX does.

Created from the ground up to meet the unique requirements of commercial operators, it features a sliding door and split double rear doors (60/40) which affords easy access to the load area, with a cargo area capable of carrying two Euro pallets & a gross vehicle weight of 2.9 tonnes.

The new VN5 uses the same 'E-City' range-extending hybrid drive system which powers the TX taxi. The drive comes from an electric motor and battery pack that's backed up by a three-cylinder petrol engine. This means the VN5 has a WLTP all-electric range of 63.4 miles, more than double that of some competition, while the petrol engine recharges the battery to give the van a total range of 301 miles (WLTP).

Like its sibling taxi the VN5 uses an aluminium body clad in high-impact plastic body panels for added durability. The battery and electrical components are located under the floor, while the engine is under the bonnet. The front end is the same design as the TX, so there are CSS and Chademo charging ports either side of the grille, and the battery can be charged in as little as half-an-hour form a 50kW charging source.

With market-leading safety features, as standard, the VN5 is equipped with the latest driver aids, which can help improve road safety & reduce accident rates, which will further reduce insurance costs.

Other model variants are planned for the future.