Watt Electric Vehicle Company reveals electric luton van

Watt Electric Vehicle Company (WEVC) has revealed its production-ready eCV1 electric light commercial vehicle, now with a revised body style for even greater carrying capacity.

Following a period of testing and feedback with large fleets, WEVC has further developed its eCV1 – initially revealed in prototype form at the 2023 CV Show – as the vehicle progresses towards volume production.

Featuring a new wide-body, ultra-low low access height configuration, the refined commercial vehicle gives fleets the key attributes of a Luton conversion – the largest type of van which can be driven in the UK with a standard licence – but with the low access height of an air suspension vehicle, in a more aerodynamic and efficient integrated body.

Carried over from initial concept to production vehicle will be the unique feature of a central driving position, allowing a safer kerbside exit for the operator, whichever side of the road the vehicle is driving or parked on.

Production-intent revisions have resulted in "unrivalled" visibility for the driver, with a "class-leading" viewing angle in front of the vehicle, according to WEVC.

The eCV1's unique cabin can be configured as a walk-through two-seater or without a sliding bulkhead door and offset three abreast seating, with the large glass house providing enhanced visibility.

Feedback from fleet buyers and operators has resulted in a flexible cabin layout with an elevated roof height, allowing drivers easy ingress and egress to either side of the vehicle, improving safety and reducing lost time waiting for a gap in traffic in urban operations, making the vehicle even more optimised for urban delivery duty cycles.

CEO of WEVC, Neil Yates, said: “We live and breathe customer-centric engineering and have listened carefully to the fleet buyers of many large organisations regarding their electric van requirements, incorporating crucial feedback into this revised, production-ready version of the original eCV1 prototype.

"This isn’t an either/or vehicle, it is an and/and electric LCV, offering the operator and driver more. We can give our customers the low access height of an air suspension vehicle, with the load capacity of a Luton conversion and class leading payload at 3.5t.

“This means many of our customers can operate the vehicle without having to go to a 4.25t plated vehicle and the tachograph and 56 mph speed limiter that brings with it. If they do have heavy payload requirements, we can offer them a 4.25t version, which can carry up to a 1750kg payload. No other electric van on the UK market today can offer this combination of range, payload, flexibility, visibility and ease of operation.”