LDV to take on Europe

China’s largest vehicle manufacturer, Saic Motor, has announced that its commercial vehicle brand, Maxus, which is sold in Australia as LDV, will spearhead the company’s move into Europe.

The launch comes following the success of LDV in Australia, as well as New Zealand, the United Kingdom and Ireland.

One of the mainstays of the push will be the electric version of the LDV V80 van range, the EV80, which has made its European debut at the IAA Commercial Vehicles Show in Hannover this week.

The EV80 was displayed in chassis-cab, standard panel van, high panel van, and wheelchair-accessible formats.

Already some European companies are signing up to add the EV80 their fleets. In Germany, rental company Hertz recently announced that it has chosen Maxus EV80 vans to be available at IKEA furniture stores in Frankfurt, Kamen and Wallua, with the fleet set to expand to other Hertz and IKEA locations.

In the Netherlands, Post NL has taken steps to future-proof itself with the delivery of the EV80, to distribute parcels in the city of The Hague. In Slovenia, the Posta Slovenije has also added a fleet of EV80 vans.

AMF-Bruns, the European market leader in accessible vehicle conversions is collaborating with SAIC Mobility Europe to market the Maxus EV80 throughout Europe as a fully-electric passenger vehicle with wheelchair access.

Saic says it has gone into partnership with LeasePlan to provide configuration and customisation, finance, insurance and fleet management. This leasing solution from LeasePlan, supported by broader aftersales services, will enable the Maxus brand to grow quickly in the European market.

LeasePlan customers opting for a Maxus EV80 will receive support with charging infrastructure, fitments and customisation, in addition to access to a network of 75,000 charging points in Europe. This benefit is delivered through LeasePlan’s partnership with Allego, an independent company that manages user-friendly charge points for electric vehicles throughout Europe.

Speaking at the show, Pieter Gabriëls, Managing Director of SAIC Mobility Europe, said: “This IAA in Hannover is a milestone for Maxus, as it is our first major international show in Europe. We will showcase the true versatility and capabilities of the EV80 platform, as well as its eco-credentials, ahead of the full launch of the Maxus brand next year.”

The Maxus EV80 is driven by a Permanent Magnet Synchronous Motor that delivers maximum output of 100kW and a maximum torque of 320Nm. All model variants are equipped with the same plug-in powertrain and high-capacity LifePo4 Lithium-ion battery that gives the vehicle a range of up to 200km, depending on configuration.

Charging time is just two hours using a DC charger. As a unique feature in this class, the vehicle is equipped to enable both AC and DC charging capability as standard, for optimal flexibility. Standard AC charging takes seven hours.

Pieter Gabriëls added: “With up to 200km real-world range, zero exhaust emissions and short charging time, the Maxus EV80 vehicles we are displaying at IAA provide an ideal solution for businesses with typical usage cycles and predominantly covering urban routes. As we ramp up deliveries and fully launch the brand across Europe in 2019 we are analysing real-world performance data to demonstrate how businesses can successfully integrate fully electric large vans into their fleets.”