ETRUX and WEVC Partnership Heralds New Era for Electric LCVs

COMMERCIAL vehicle specialist ETRUX and electric vehicle pioneers Watt Electric Vehicle Company (WEVC) have announced their collaboration on a new project which will revolutionise the adoption of electric light vehicles by fleet managers across the UK and Europe and the release of an engineered prototype at the CV Show.

Ronan Hamill, CEO of JANS Group, of which ETRUX is a subsidiary, and Neil Yates CEO of WEVC, have signed a Memorandum of Understanding, committing to a business relationship which will see WEVC’s unique light vehicle platforms adapted by ETRUX into a range of offerings for the commercial vehicle market.

“This is a turning point for commercial vehicles,” Ronan Hamill said. “This MOU signifies a business partnership which has the potential to change the electric light vehicle commercial market.

“ETRUX will adapt WEVC’s platform into a ground-breaking and truly viable range of electric vehicle alternatives for fleet managers. I have no doubt that our partnership with WEVC will help speed the transition of commercial light vehicles from diesel fuelled to zero carbon.”

A SMMT (Society of Motor Manufactures and Traders) recent report stated that the total LCV market is also set to grow this year. Amplified by green fleet investment, and with 321,000 van registrations targeted, amounting to an uplift of 13.9% - a market value of more than £13 billion, will see a

£1.5 billion increase on 2022.

Neil Yates continued: “We are delighted to be working with ETRUX, a company which offers the engineering skills, innovative materials and depth of understanding that will deliver an outstanding range of electric commercial vehicles to the market. This is an exciting time for WEVC as we take the first steps in seeing our electric vehicle platform eCV1 adapted for widespread commercial use.”

Watt Electric Vehicle Company unveiled their innovative electric light commercial vehicle platform

IVECO eDAILY to make UK debut

Visitors at this year’s 2023 Commercial Vehicle Show will have their first chance to get up close and personal with the new IVECO eDaily.

This exciting new electric LCV that features a broad range of capabilities retains its rugged truck-based chassis enabling an unrivalled payload, superior 3.5-tonne towing capacity, and more body types than any other vehicle in its class. This is the same IVECO Daily operators depend on, just electric. IVECO eDaily is currently the only eLCV on sale to provide a 15kW ePTO. The vehicle’s applications are wide-ranging including tippers, chilled and refrigerated box vans, ariel platforms and much more, meaning each can take advantage of the eDaily’s game-changing onboard power. Mike Cutts, IVECO’s Light Business Line Director said: “The CV Show is the perfect place to launch the eDAILY and let people interact with the vehicle for the first time. This all-electric model is a real statement for IVECO, highlighting that an EV needn’t mean compromise. With the unique characteristics that this vehicle offers the eLCV sector we’re looking forward to welcoming visitors to our stand and getting the opportunity to explain them face to face.”

(codenamed eCV1) in February 2023. The MOU between ETRUX and WEVC was signed in March and is an arrangement between the two companies. It will see the WECV’s eCV1 platform adapted by ETRUX into a range of transport and leisure vehicles over the next number of years. The first prototype borne out of this partnership will be revealed at the ETRUX stand at the Commercial Vehicle Show.

Gerard Galvin, managing director of ETRUX, said; “We’ve been working on a number of exciting projects, and we are delighted to have signed the MoU with WEVC as we can see this vehicle being a huge commercial success. I’m very pleased to see the construction of an electric light commercial vehicle for a variety of commercial transport applications. Our ETRUX team, including our engineers, are working very hard to deliver a working engineered prototype for the CV Show next month. I look forward to seeing the results of that and a strong and enduring partnership with WEVC.”

Joining the eDaily on the IVECO stand will be an IVECO S-Way 460hp Natural Gas truck. This vehicle when powered by biomethane produces up to 95% less CO2 than an equivalent diesel model. An IVECO S-Way 490 ‘fuel hero’ will also be available for attendees to get behind the wheel in the show’s Ride & Drive area located adjacent to the IVECO stand outside Hall 5. Gareth Lumsdaine, Director of IVECO’s Truck Business Line commented: “The IVECO S-Way has made a real impact since its launch. Not only do operators appreciate its productivity, but drivers are also benefiting from the drivercentric approach that we’ve employed. We hope that any drivers visiting the show who have not yet had a chance to get behind the wheel of the S-Way will take the opportunity to do so at the Ride & Drive area.”