Electric VW van- w/pic (a delivery high-top- for conversions?)

[pinetreeporsche]

https://cleantechnica.com/2018/04/06/volkswagen-ec...ril-24-26/

Volkswagen will be officially unveiling its new all-electric van, the eCrafter, at the upcoming Commercial Vehicle Show at the NEC in Birmingham (UK).

The CV Show is scheduled to take place between April 24th and 26th, so the unveiling date isn’t that far off — which means that further details on the Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles’ first semi-serious electric van offering should be around the corner. The van will be of interest no doubt to fleet buyers in the UK, which are under high pressure to transition their delivery van fleets to the all-electric modality. There are a handful of electric vans on the market, so it’ll be interesting to see if the eCrafter slots into the middle of the pack or perhaps has something more to offer.

Notably, Volkswagen will be offering test drives of the eCrafter to select customers at the event. Real-world testing of the model in the UK is expected to begin in May, which follows the beginning of real-world testing in Europe back in December 2017.



Commenting on the approaching beginning of real-world testing in the UK, the fleet manager at Gatwick Airport, John Hole, commented: “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 press release provides more: “The eCrafter has been tailored precisely to these typical city operations with its 100 kW power output, range of around 160 km and top speed limited to 90 kph. The eCrafter’s lithium-ion battery is completely integrated into the underbody, meaning the standard vehicle’s entire cargo volume (10.7 m3) is fully usable. A maximum payload of between 1.0 and 1.75 tonnes is available. At a CCS charging station supplying the battery can be charged to 80% in just 45 minutes. From a wallbox, charging time to 100% is around 5.5 hours.”

With regard to commercial availability of the new Volkswagen eCrafter, it should be noted that while European deliveries are expected to begin later this year, presuming that real-world trials go well, deliveries to the UK and other left-hand-drive markets aren’t expected to begin until 2020 or 2021.

[IdahoDoug]

Interesting that it was designed to such a limited range. Probably fits with what the EU is forcing delivery companies to tolerate through tax and other public money subsidies. Otherwise I cannot imagine any delivery fleet operator being happy with a 100 mile range before being back out of service for charging. Just guessing at a 20 mile per hour average pace for an urban package delivery service, that's 4 hours of service (80 miles) and then back to home base (10 miles, leaving reserve to avoid stranding) for a recharge, then finish the day out.

Where a gasoline or diesel version may be capable of a 200 mile range, so it leaves to work all day and then gets refilled at the end of the day after hours.

Lots of guess work here but that low range was a surprise to me considering how long we've been developing electric vehicles now. Makes me wonder if they will deliberately offer a 120 mile range next year with simply a better battery as the change. Then 140 the next year and possibly a budget model with the original 100 mile range for consumer use, or the other way around, etc. A total change to the economics.
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1987 2WD Wolfsburg Vanagon Weekender "Mango", two fully locked 80 Series LandCruisers. 2017 Subaru Outback boxer. 1990 Audi 90 Quattro 20V with rear locking differential, 1990 burgundy parts Vanagon. 1984 Porsche 944, 1988 Toyota Supra 5 speed targa, 2002 BMW 325iX, 1982 Toyota Sunrader

[E1]

Great OP.

Presuming this may be the future platform for a camper van, Sprinter fans must be thrilled to have a half-brother. Likely competent as a cargo van, but a disappointing T7 camper -- if that's where it's headed.

Vanagon values just went further upwards.
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‘84 Westy, 2.1L with Digijet, 5.43 R+P, GT Gears
"Adding power makes you faster on the straights.
Subtracting weight makes you faster everywhere."
— Colin Chapman

[fxr]

[Steve M.]

Waiting for the 1st owner mod to install a Honda generator to recharge it!
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This free advice is worth exactly what you paid for it.

There are seven days in a week. Someday is not one of them.

[Merian]

low range ====> lower price
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....

[E1]

[Zeitgeist 13]

The Crafter is no longer being built on the Sprinter platform. It's now a wholly VAG designed and built chassis. I like it. Can't wait to see where this leads.
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Casey--

'89 Bluestar ALH w/12mm Waldo pump, PP764 and GT2052
'01 Weekender --> full camper
y u rune klassik?