LEVC VN5

Launched in 2020, the LEVC (London Electric Vehicle Company) VN5 has been hard at work winning over businesses with its blend of practicality and long-range operational ability ever since. Those qualities won us over too, which is why we named it the Company Car & Van 2021 Medium EV Van of the Year.

Developed, engineered and built at LEVC’s state-of-the-art headquarters in Ansty, Coventry, the VN5’s brief is to cope with the most demanding conditions. With a pure electric range of more than 60 miles,* it treads exceptionally lightly, effortlessly crossing cities in pure electric mode. Yet it can also travel far and wide using the nation’s motorways without the driver having to give a journey a second thought.

Utilising LEVC’s pioneering and proven eCity range-extender technology, first developed for the company’s electric TX Taxi, the VN5 provides a total flexible range of 319 miles and takes range anxiety completely off the table.

When required, the range-extender recharges VN5’s battery, which in turn powers the electric motor that drives the wheels, only acting as a power source to provide electricity to the battery, extending the driving range.

As a result, the VN5 is the ultimate green commercial vehicle: the van in the yard that can be called on to deliver to a city centre with zero emissions. – or travel long distances at the drop of a hat.

But should a driver need to stop, it won’t be for long. The VN5’s ultra-rapid 50kW DC charging capability takes just 30 minutes to fully replenish the battery from zero to 100%.

VN5 is engineered to last twice as long as the competition. Its strong yet lightweight first-in-sector bonded aluminium monocoque, and Sheet Moulding Compound (SMC) composite construction brings numerous advantages, being highly resistant to corrosion and absorbing twice the crash energy of mild steel. With a high level of dent-resistance engineered in, the VN5’s SMC body panels are adept at shrugging off the inevitable minor bumps and scrapes that occur when a van is subjected to a hard-working life.

Length: 5,233mm Overall width including mirrors: 2,083mm Overall height, unladen: 1,990mm Max Load Volume: 5.5m3 Side load door entry width: 1128mm Rear door entry width: 1253mm Max payload: 830kg Gross vehicle weight: 2900kg Turning circle kerb to kerb: 10.1m

150,000-mile vehicle warranty and a battery warranty of eight years, 150,000 miles as standard. Customers can opt to extend the warranty even further if they wish. Equally impressive lengthy 25,000-mile service intervals also play a crucial role in minimising downtime and maximising profitability.

Another place operators won’t want the VN5 sitting idle for too long is in the warehouse. With a maximum cargo capacity of 5.5m3, the VN5 effortlessly accommodates two Euro-sized pallets, with a gross payload of 830kg. A large side-loading door makes it easy for the pallets to be placed inside the cargo area.

The VN5’s 60/40 split rear door makes it simple for the driver to load and unload items. And with a class-leading turning circle of just 10.1 metres, the VN5 is endowed with the same exceptional levels of agility and mobility found in its TX electric taxi sibling.

The VN5 Van also shares the TX Taxi’s driver-centric cabin, making for the perfect working environment. The ergonomically designed driver’s seat is fully adjustable, while the steering wheel is also adjustable for reach and rake. Once the driver has found their ideal seating position they can effortlessly control vehicle settings via a large central touchscreen with an intuitive interface. Everything in the cabin has already been robustly proven on the hectic streets of London by thousands of cabbies.

All models feature Autonomous Emergency Braking (AEB), front and side driver and passenger airbags, cruise control, nine-inch touchscreen and dual-zone climate control as standard, in addition to 50kW DC rapid charging and minimum 11kW AC fast charging capability.

With a total flexible range of 319 miles and a pure electric range of over 64 miles*, the LEVC VN5 enables drivers and operators to meet the needs of zero-emission mobility without compromising practicality, productivity or profitability. The VN5’s first-in-sector body construction and class-leading warranty ensure exceptional durability. A highly advanced, ergonomic driver-centric cabin and spacious, cleverly-thought-out cargo area meet the demands of businesses today whilst futureproofing them for tomorrow.

* Total flexible range of 318.9 and pure EV (electric only) range of 63.8 miles, in accordance with official EAER Worldwide Harmonised Light Vehicle Test Procedure (WLTP) figures (October 2020). These figures may not reflect real life driving results, which will depend upon a few factors including accessories fitted (post-registration), variations in weather, driving styles and vehicle loads.