We mainly know the London Electric Vehicle Company (LEVC) as the manufacturer of the TX, the current incarnation of the ‘London taxi’, of which several copies are also driving around in the Netherlands. In 2019, LEVC showed a van based on that retro design-infused TX: the VN5. LEVC is now releasing more details of its electrified commercial vehicle.
The VN5 produced in Ansty, England, just like the TX, is of course related to the TX on a technical level, which means that the design of the drivetrain is familiar to us. The VN5 has a 31 kWh battery pack in its base, from which a 150 hp and 250 Nm strong electric motor gets its zest for life. You should be able to get about 98 WLTP kilometers with it on pure electrical power. The LEVC has a 91 hp 1.5-litre blown three-cylinder petrol engine on board, from Volvo’s shelves, which acts as a range extender. The total range is therefore 489 kilometers. The VN5 has a speed of 100 km/h in 13.2 seconds. Acceleration stops at a speed of 129 km/h. An empty battery pack can be fully charged with fresh power in 30 minutes on a 50 kW DC charger.
LEVC VN5
The LEVC VN5 has a loading volume of 5.5 cubic meters and is large enough to accommodate two pallets. The maximum payload is 830 kilos. On the left, the VN5 has a sliding door, at the very back we find two rear doors. Incidentally, the VN5 is more than just a TX with closed rear side windows. For example, the wheelbase of the VN5 at 3.39 meters is no less than 40 centimeters longer than that of its more famous taxi brother. In addition, the VN5 is 11 centimeters higher than the TX.
Nice detail: that the VN5 comes from the same parent company as Volvo (Geely), is not only apparent from the 1.5 three-cylinder, but also from the design of, among other things, the steering wheel, the infotainment system and the buttons below and the controls on the center console. Fun fact: the charging point is located under a flap directly to the right of the grille. The opening of the petrol tank is hidden under a similar flap on the left side of the grille.
LEVC VN5
Charmed by the VN5? Then we have good news, LEVC already has three sales points in the Netherlands (Rotterdam, Lijnden and Ruurlo) where you can order the VN5. More service points will follow shortly. We can let you know very soon what the VN5 will cost.
– Thanks for information from Autoweek.nl