Car news
LEVC unveils world’s first electric campervan he world’s first electric campervan, e-Camper, is designed to offer both zeroemission capability and zero range anxiety. Joerg Hofmann, CEO of LEVC, commented: “The campervan market is growing rapidly and, despite these vehicles being used for coastal and countryside adventures which often include national parks and protected areas, they are still powered by petrol or diesel engines. This is a major conflict — we can see a shift in consumer attitudes, with demand for greener mobility solutions to help to protect and improve air quality. Our new electric, zero-emissions-capable e-Camper offers the perfect solution and is well-equipped with high- quality features that
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can be tailored to meet a range of customer requirements.” Based on VN5, LEVC’s new electric van, and its TX taxi, e-Camper has the same pure EV range of over 98km, with a total flexible range of 489km. Owners can operate in zero emissions mode, ideal for the campsite, and also even power the integrated electric kitchenette without the need for fossil fuels. Flexibility and space are key attributes. The new LEVC e-Camper includes sleeping accommodation for four, an integrated electric kitchenette, pop-up roof (incorporating sleeping for two), and a central folding table. In addition, the campervan includes a second-row bench
seat, which folds into the second double bed. With a class-leading tight turning circle, e-Camper is also easy to manoeuvre in any environment. When owners set up camp, they can swivel the first-row seats through 180 degrees and slide the second row back, creating enough room to dine and socialise around the deployable table. The pop-up roof creates standing room space for both the living and cooking areas, and a single large sliding door makes entry to and exit from the living area easy. LEVC will soon target offshore markets, including Australia and New Zealand, and expects to move from 90 percent domestic sales to 60 percent export in 2024.
Semiconductor shortage to outlast Covid? he global semiconductor shortage will have far-reaching and long-lasting effects that are likely to have a greater impact on the automotive industry than the Covid pandemic, according to pioneering automobile software provider VNC Automotive. The company has recently launched its first hardware product, Cobalt Cube, designed to integrate advanced systems for police and emergency services vehicles. Tom Blackie, founder and CEO, said: “In conversations with clients and suppliers, it’s become clear that the effects of the semiconductor shortage will long outlast the pandemic, and will potentially have a far more serious impact on sales and future development. “Some of our suppliers are seeing prices for chips that are more than 30 times higher than before, and at that level, their use is no longer sustainable.
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Auto Channel Issue #39 September 2021
“We’re even seeing vehicle buyers and fleet operators having to consider purchasing models that aren’t on their preferred lists because that’s all that’s available. At a time when the industry is asking people to consider making the switch to EVs, supply restrictions are leaving them frustrated.” Disruptions in the supply chain caused by fires and natural disasters at critical production plants have been compounded by an increase in demand for electronic devices as well as the car industry’s faster-than-anticipated sales rebound after enforced factory shutdowns. “Suppliers and OEMs may now be forced to simplify their designs to use fewer complex components that are still available,” Blackie continued, “and we’re concerned this will lead to a reduction in functionality at a time when consumer expectations have never been higher.”
VNC Automotive is a pioneer in car connectivity and telematics software, and its work is currently in use in over 35 million vehicles, across 20 of the world’s largest automotive OEMs.
