While only an early test mule, this is a striking commercial vehicle concept created by Liberty Electric Cars, which is a “clean technology company which is designing, engineering and manufacturing leading edge electric vehicle technologies to serve growing demand for zero-emission transport solutions in markets around the world.”
They currently sell electrification kits for trucks, buses, 4x4s, SUVs and pickups and the Liberty E-Range, which is basically a Range Rover using one of their electric powertrains.
The vehicle you see in the photos here is called DELIVER. While it may look like it’s from 2020-something, it’s actually the fruit of work that started in November of 2011 on a project whose aim was “to reduce the environmental impact in urban areas by 40 % and thus design and construct an electric light commercial vehicle which perfectly combines the needs of inner city traffic with the advantages of electric vehicles.”
It’s completely electric, weighs 2,200 kg (4,850 lbs) and has a maximum payload capacity of 700 kg (1,543 lbs). Apparently, thanks to the way it’s packaged, it offers 18 percent more cargo capacity than a conventional van riding on the same wheelbase – there are practical reasons to consider it too.
Range is said to be 100 km (62 miles) and top speed is 100 km/h (62 mph), though both these could/may be improved with progressing battery tech.
If you want to see it live, it’s on display at the FISITA World Automotive Congress, in Maastricht, the Netherlands.
By Andrei Nedelea
VIDEO