The UK’s Royal Mail postal service has begun trials of the London Electric Vehicle Company’s (LEVC) VN5 electric van.
Thanks to the similarities between the company’s TX Taxi and the VN5, LEVC is deploying a fleet of converted TX-based prototypes utilizing a full interior van conversion as part of a series of trials ahead of the official VN5 launch later this year. The British post and courier provider is one of 25 business partners taking part in the trials, all using the converted TX-based vehicles.
“Royal Mail is one of the oldest postal services in the world and, like our London black cab, is part of British history and culture. It is great that these two iconic brands are joining forces for this trial. The VN5 prototypes will wear the iconic Royal Mail red livery and be used on routes that will test the vehicle’s ability to the full. These trials are crucial to the final development of the van, ahead of its launch later this year.”
LEVC noted that the VN5 easily accommodates two Euro size pallets with a gross payload of over 800kg. The vehicle has been built with a large side-loading door (enabling a pallet to be side-loaded) and a 60/40 split door at the rear to enable easy loading and unloading.
The VN5 is not just an inner city specialist. With its series hybrid drivetrain, it has been designed to provide ‘distribution to door’ – not just last-mile – capability, creating a link between out of town depots and city centers.
