Volkswagen’s eCrafter electric van is to debut this month at the CV Show just weeks ahead of the start of real-world testing with UK customers.
Due for launch in September, the zero-emission van has already started fleet trials with an international group of major customers, with the results of these and the UK tests to determine its final design.
Four customers are taking part in the UK tests: Gatwick Airport, Heathrow Airport, City of London Corporation and the London Borough of Southwark.
John Hole, fleet manager at Gatwick Airport, said: “We are delighted to be able to test the eCrafter ahead of launch and interested to see how the vehicle performs in everyday conditions and operations. Sustainable transport is an important focus for Gatwick across our entire business, including alternative fuelled vans and it is great to see such innovation in the supply chain.”
The eCrafter has a 100kW power output, range of around 160km (99 miles) and top speed limited to 90kph (55mph), and is aimed at urban operations, in particular fleets whose vehicles cover between 70 and 100km (43-62 miles) per day. According to research carried out by Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles, these parameters apply to around 85% of the trips made in an urban setting.
The eCrafter also offers the full 10.7m3 cargo volume of the standard Crafter, thanks to its use of a lithium-ion battery that’s completely integrated into the underbody, and a maximum payload of between 1.0 and 1.75 tonnes. A 100% charge takes around 5.5 hours using a wallbox, reduced to 45 minutes for an 80% charge at a CCS charging station.
At the CV Show, visitors will have the chance to find out about the test vehicles ahead of the UK trials.
Carl zu Dohna, director of Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles, commented: “I’m really pleased we can show the eCrafter at the CV Show and look forward to talking to customers about their future fleet requirements.”
