Watt Electric Vehicle Company (WEVC) and Etrux are to jointly build lightweight electric commercial vehicles, with Etrux adapting WEVC’s passenger and commercial EV skateboard (PACES) platform into various new products.
Etrux CEO Gerard Galvin commented, “The eCV1 prototype is really exciting as it gives us the freedom to create vehicles that meet our customers’ needs more than ever before. With this platform, which has been designed to be electric from the ground up, we don’t have to work around the compromises that the industry traditionally faces, especially with electric vans derived from diesel bodies.”
Northern Irish company Etrux will showcase an engineering prototype at the CV Show on April 18-20 in the UK. The prototype is based on WEVC’s Watt eCV1 3.5-tonne cab and chassis unit and features an in-house-designed body on top, which is currently undergoing testing. It is designed for production of up to 5,000 vehicles a year, and modifiable for different applications.
“We are delighted to be working with Etrux, a company that offers the engineering skills, innovative materials and depth of understanding to deliver an outstanding range of electric commercial vehicles to the market utilizing our eCV1 platform. This is an exciting time for WEVC as we take the first steps in seeing our electric commercial vehicle platform adapted for a wide range of applications and uses,” said Neil Yates, CEO of WEVC.
Galvin continued, “WEVC’s platform really does bring advantages with such an incredible payload-to-weight ratio, the safety and energy efficiency benefits of the central driving position and the flexibility of both standard and bespoke vehicle lengths and layouts they can offer us. We are delighted to have signed the MoU with WEVC and we look forward to this vehicle being a huge commercial success.”
Although the instruments and materials fitted for engineering development are not representative of the final production specification, the prototype features a representative two-seater layout and demonstrates many of the key attributes of the final specification vehicle.
Yates explained, “This is not a polished exhibition model for the CV Show, this is a functional engineering prototype that will be going straight back out on the roads doing tough development miles immediately after the event finishes. We are delighted to be working with our friends at Etrux to show visitors to the NEC an insight into what the final specification vehicle will be.
“We already have a number of respected industry operators who have made appointments to come and see the prototype vehicle as they can see the attributes and commercial potential our eCV1 platform brings to the sector.”
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