2018 Volkswagen eCrafter

ALL-ELECTRIC VOLKSWAGEN eCRAFTER TO MAKE UK DEBUT AT COMMERCIAL VEHICLE SHOW

Volkswagen's electric van to make debut at CV Show at NEC from 24-26 April
•Display vehicle will then be used with key customer to test everyday practicality
•Visitors will have the chance to find out about the test vehicles
•Chance to discuss trial. Motives and strategy with key ÚK customer

The all-electric van from Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles, the eCrafter, will be making its ÚK debut at the Commercial Vehicle Show at the NEC in Birmingham from 24-26 April, ahead of real-world testing beginning with ÚK customers at the start of May.

The first test vehicles were handed over to a group of major European customers at Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles' headquarters in Hannover in December. By allowing the vehicle to undergo tests with selected fleet operators, the company will be able to incorporate findings and learnings into the final design and production version of the zero-emission van.

Four ÚK customers are taking part in the tests: Gatwick Airport, Heathrow Airport, City of London Corporation and the London Borough of Southwark. John Hole, Fleet Manager at Gatwick Airport, said: '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.'

Like the conventionally-fuelled and multi-award-winning Crafter, the eCrafter was designed in collaboration with customers – in particular those whose vehicles cover between 70 and 100 km per day, sometimes involving many starts and stops. These parameters apply to around 85 per cent of the trips made in an urban setting according to analysis of more than 210,000 driving profiles with over 1,500 customers. 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 per cent in just 45 minutes. From a wallbox, charging time to 100 per cent is around 5.5 hours.

The eCrafter will be available in September 2018*, once it has been extensively tested by customers in practice and made fully ready for the market.

Commenting on the vehicle trials, director of Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles, Carl zu Dohna said: 'I'm really pleased we can show the eCrafter at the CV Show and look forward to talking to customers about their future fleet requirements. Our promise to work with all customers and provide them with bespoke mobility solutions to keep them and their businesses moving is at the heart of everything we do. Having the right vehicles, including alternatively fuelled vans, is essential and we are sure the eCrafter will play an important part in our future model strategy.'

For more information on Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles' award-winning range of products and services, please visit www.volkswagen-vans.co.uk. For more information or free tickets to the CV Show, go to www.cvshow.com.

* Initial deliveries in left-hand drive to markets in mainland Europe. ÚK and right-hand drive introduction currently planned for 2020-1.

Source - Volkswagen