Electric Cargo Van Could Satisfy all Global Regulations

A new all-electric commercial van could redefine scale and affordability in this vehicle class.

Class 5 vehicles typically include “Medium” trucks (from 16,001–19,500 pounds) like the Dodge Ram 5500, GMC 5500, and Ford F-550, and because of wildly different global environmental regulations, they’re normally produced in limited quantities (in specific configurations, that is).

California-based EV maker Chanje (pronounced "change") hopes to change all that with an all-electric van that could neatly fit into any worldwide market (including the U.S. in 4^th-quarter 2017).

And because the new van is compatible with most global regulations, it can be produced on a scale and price point not previously attainable.

"We have designed a vehicle that will play well in several different markets so that we can leverage the supply chain and get that volume," said Chanje CEO Bryan Hansel. "For the first time, the North American fleet market has an opportunity to access a world-class, high-quality and cost-effective commercial electric truck."

Hansel added that with its unibody construction, the vans will be “built more like cars than trucks.”

The Chanje V8070 cargo van can handle a payload up to 6,000 pounds, with a range of 100 miles and a MPGe (or miles per gallon equivalent) of about  50. It’ll also incorporate autonomous driving capabilities and vehicle connectivity, though both features might be superfluous for at least a little while. (Anyone care to deal with the political ramifications of autonomous vehicles on a large scale?)

Chanje is trying to negotiate deals for a larger charging infrastructure, but for now, the V8070’s electric range makes it perfect for urban environments.

The V8070 is currently produced in China for its unnamed clients (including select customers in the U.S.), but Chanje wants to select a U.S manufacturing site (somewhere west of the Mississippi) by 2018.