VN5 electric van completes final testing phase

LEVC's new range-extended electric van - VN5 has completed its final testing phase and will start production in Q4.

Prototypes of the vehicle, built on the same production line as the TX, have spent the last 32 months undergoing a strict development and homologation programme including hot and cold climate testing, durability and crash testing.

In total the vehicles have completed equivalent of 850,000 kilometres of testing, ensuring the VN5 will more than live up to the task of daily use.

During development, VN5 has undergone a raft of tests including ‘extreme event and abuse’, which places huge demands on the powertrain, suspension and brakes, with rapid deceleration over potholes, multiple kerb strikes as well as wading through waist deep water. This phase has also made sure that VN5’s class-leading manoeuvrability, with a city-friendly turning circle of just 10.1m, stands up to the test.  

Engineers have also carried out ‘general durability’ testing, designed to replicate a lifetime of usage, as well as climatic chamber testing, simulating the effect hostile temperatures and weather can have on vehicle functions and materials. Dynamic ride and handling testing using various loads has also taken VN5’s braking, acceleration and cornering ability to the limit and beyond.

​VN5 delivers a total flexible range of more than 300 miles (489 km)  with ultra-low emissions of just 21 g/km CO2 on the combined WLTP1 cycle. This cycle delivers a pure electric zero emissions range of 61 miles (98 km) and green driving could ​achieve a 76-mile (122 km) range in pure EV mode, according to WLTP city methodology. 

With up to 5.5m3 capacity, VN5 cargo capacity easily accommodates two Euro sized pallets with a gross payload of up to 830kg. It has been built with a large side-loading door (enabling a pallet to be side-loaded) and a 60/40 split door at the rear to make loading and unloading easy for the driver.

Available to order now, first VN5 deliveries commence in RHD form in Q4, with LHD models available from March 2021.