Munro EV Is A No-Frills Off-Roader From Scotland, Coming In The US In 2023

Munro Vehicles, an EV start-up from Scotland, was founded in 2019 and its first model is already available for pre-order. The Munro EV is a no-frills fully electric off-roade, that will be sold in both the UK and the US starting from 2023.

We first covered the Munro EV in 2021, when the project was still in a very early stage. Things have moved on since, with a functional prototype being tested in the wilderness. According to the company, the vehicle is designed “to carry personnel and equipment across difficult terrain”.

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The model is based on a galvanized steel ladder-frame chassis with an aluminum body. Using OEM parts for brakes and suspension allows for easier maintenance and cheaper repairs. Visually, it retains the boxy shape of the initial concept, with flat body panels, minimum front and rear overhangs, exposed wheels shod in all-terrain tires, plus a hefty ground clearance. Munro is also offering customization options in terms of paint, tires, suspension, and interior trim, while the model is also “adaptable for special applications” and “upgradeable”.

The production version is more powerful than expected, with an electric motor producing 376 hp (280 kW / 380 PS) and 700 Nm (516.3 lb-ft) of torque. The model has a permanent four-wheel-drive system with a two-speed transfer box, rigid axles, and lockable differentials. This, in combination with exceptional off-road angles, a 100 cm (39.4 inches) wading depth and “extreme axle articulation” make it pretty much unstoppable off the beaten track.

The 80.1 kWh battery is good for a range of 168 miles (270 km) in mixed-driving conditions, which according to Munro equals to roughly 16 hours of off-highway use. Thankfully, the battery can charge from 15-80 percent in only 36 minutes when connected to a 100 kW DC charger. On a more common 22 kW AC wallbox, a full charge takes around three hours.

The Munro EV’s workhorse character is confirmed by the 1,000 kg (2,205 pounds) payload, the ability to carry a full-size pallet at the boot, and the 3,500 kg (7,716 pounds) towing capability. Those specs are similar to ICE-powered commercial vehicles, although we are sure that range would be affected by a heavy load.

The Munro EV can be pre-ordered from the official website for £500 ($583), for either private or commercial use. The estimated price is £65,000 ($75,832) before taxes and registration, with Autocar reporting a price closer to £75,000 ($87,500). While this sounds pretty expensive, Munro is targeting industrial customers, such as forestry businesses in Canada, farms in Florida, oil fields in Texas, and gold mines in Nevada. US availability is expected in 2023, shortly after the first examples are delivered in the UK. As for the production numbers, Munro plans on building 50 units in 2023, 500 units in 2024, and 2,500 units in 2025, before reaching an annual production of 5,000 units by 2030.