If you’re running a delivery van or light truck in Australia, especially if inner city or suburban deliveries are your bread and butter, chances are you are probably covering less than 300 kilometers per day.
This makes an electric powertrain a smart alternative to a traditional vehicle that requires refilling of ever more expensive petrol or diesel.
But, in Australia today, if you did want to make the jump your EV Light Commercial Vehicle (LCV) choices are pretty slim.
As an example of just how far advanced some of our overseas friends are in this space – in the UK some dealerships only sell EVs.
And one of those dealerships specializes in supplying operators with EV LCVs.
Called Innovation Automotive, they source brand new EVs from different overseas manufacturers and then supply those electrically-propelled vans and light trucks to their customers.
They source vehicles from three manufacturers you probably haven’t heard of DFSK, Seres, and Skywell (more details on who these brands are below).
And, they tell us things are going so well for them that they intend to offer even more options for UK operators.
Launched in 2021, the business says its offerings have earned a reputation among SMEs and large businesses as productive and cost-effective workhorses.
Beginning in Q4 2024, Innovation Automotive will commence the rollout of its next-generation LCVs which includes a dedicated product for the small (<5.0m), medium (5.0-8.0m), and large (>8.0m) van segments.
“We are hugely excited to be launching our ‘Next Level Vans’ which, in true Innovation Automotive style, combine great productivity and low cost of ownership.” – Samir Hmicho, Chairman of Innovation Automotive.
“With three distinctive products and a range of body lengths and heights; we have a product to suit every business”.
The new van and pick-up offerings will be manufactured by Innovation Automotive’s partner OEM brands DFSK and Skywell.
About the Innovation Automotive brands offered:
DFSK
DFSK was established over 40 years ago as a joint venture between Dongfeng and Sokon Industry Group and is now one of China’s “big three” automotive brands.
The company is known for its high-quality manufacturing and innovative design, and its electric vehicles are sold in more than 30 countries globally.
Seres
Seres is a global transportation technology company focussing on premium electric vehicles. The company is headquartered in Silicon Valley USA and has research and development centers in the US, Germany, China, and Japan.
The company’s electric vehicles are manufactured in both the US and China.
Skywell
Skywell is a well-established electric vehicle brand in operation for over three decades. In 2016, the company formed the Skywell New Energy Automobile Group and acquired an 88% stake in NGDB Co.
In 2017 the company launched a strategic electric vehicle and plug-in hybrid vehicle project which aims to create a range of electric vehicles that are both stylish and affordable.
Sounds like a great idea for a business and is probably something of which we will see in Australia in coming years.
