Chinese LCV manufacturer Maxus has revealed a stand consisting solely of electric vehicles at the CV Show in Birmingham, while revealing that 54% of its sales are now of EVs.
Maxus, manufactured by Chinese giant SAIC which acquired LDV vans in 2010, is stepping up its electric credentials, and displayed nine EV variants at the show including the e Deliver 3 and larger e Deliver 9 models on new platforms.
The e Deliver 9 was launched in 2020 and claims a driving range of up to 219 miles between charges. It is available with three battery size options and costs from £65,000 excluding VAT and before application of the Government’s plug-in grant.
The e Deliver 3 small van was designed from the start as an EV with a 92kW motor and a range of up to 210 miles. It’s priced from £33,000 and available in several wheelbase and fit-out options.
New variants of the e Deliver 3 on show in Birmingham included a refrigerated body, making use of the latest 52.5kWh battery option and according to Maxus earning big interest amongst grocery and pharmaceutical users, and a drop-sider chassis-cab version. Maxus plans to launch a new long-wheelbase chassis variety of the e Deliver 3 in the second quarter of 2022.
Speaking at the show, Mark Barrett, general manager of UK distributor Harris Maxus, said that the firm is expecting a 400% increase in EV sales compared to 2020 by the end of the year.
Maxus has just signed major supply agreements with delivery service DPD and with leading fleet services group VMS Fleet Management, which provides contract and specialist van hire services nationwide including in the refrigerated and accident management sectors.
The VMS order, for 1,000 vehicles, is one of the largest secured by Maxus in the UK to date, and 60% of the vans supplied will be EVs. DPD is buying 500 e Deliver 9s and 250 e Deliver 3s, doubling its UK fleet of electric vehicles.
