LDV is marking its third year at the CV Show since it was resurrected by Chinese owners SAIC by making a big fuss about electric vehicles, with several example of the all-electric EV80 available to view on the stand.
One of these is being wrapped in a very familiar shade of red as the show progresses – it’s going into trial with the Royal Mail in London for six months.
Beyond the current product, UK and Ireland importers the Harris Group has confirmed plans for a new, smaller electric LDV van called the EV31, plus not only the first details of a badly needed Euro 6 engine but also more information about the all-new V80 large van that it will be fitted into.
LDV parent company SAIC makes big investment into zero emission technology
LDV is owned by Chinese automotive giant SAIC, and this is helping push what seems to be a very small van brand in 2018 into areas most of the large manufacturers are only just dipping their toes into – electric power in particular.
Underlining SAIC’s commitment to zero emissions technology, in the last 12 months we’re told it has invested $1 billion (around £716 million) into Chinese battery firm CATL, giving LDV access to genuinely up-to-the-minute electric vehicle components.
Which may add some weight to the claims it’s making about the forthcoming EV31 electric van.
LDV EV31 electric van for 2019 promises 200-mile range
The LDV EV31 will be a purpose-built electric van, rather than a conversion of an existing model – which is possibly a first in the van sector (even if the latest Mercedes Sprinter and VW Crafter were engineered with electric power in mind, they are still primarily conventional vans with conventional diesel engines).
It will be available in two wheelbases, giving a load volume choice of 4.8 and 6.1 cubic – making it a contender in the small to medium area of the van market.
Both AC and DC charging capability will be built-in, allowing operators to charge it in a wide range of situations.
Most significantly of all, LDV says it will have a driving range of 200 miles – around 30 miles more than best electric vans on sale right now, which are the smaller Nissan e-NV200 (2018 onwards) and Renault Kangoo ZE 33 (2017 onwards).
First details of new LDV V80 (SV63) with D20 Euro 6 engine
One of the problems with the present LDV V80 large van (pictured) is that it is still using a Euro 5 engine. This will change in late 2019 when the all-new V80 goes into production.
Codenamed SV63, this will use a brand new platform, have a gross vehicle weight of up to 5.0 tonnes, and a payload rating of between 1.3 tonnes and 2.5 tonnes (1,300-2,500kg). Reduced ground clearance should give the new van a lower loading height, too. Both front-wheel drive (FWD) and rear-wheel drive (RWD) versions are promised.
The SV31 V80 will be powered by an equally new 2.0-litre turbodiesel engine codenamed D20. This will sensibly skip Euro 6c and go straight to compliance with the tougher Euro 6d regulations, which come into effect in 2020.
More impressive still, it will apparently be very powerful, offering ‘up to’ 214hp and 480Nm of torque.
What else is LDV working on?
Well, SAIC currently has 100 hydrogen vehicles testing at Shanghai airport, and LDV is ambitiously hoping that it may be able to offer this as another alternative fuel in ‘the next two or three years’ – subject to the infrastructure improving (which is happening, but very slowly).
Probably more relevant is that the LDV T60 pickup is undergoing European evaluation at the moment, which hopefully means we should have some concrete information about whether this will be sold in the UK very soon. This too is likely to be powered by the D20 engine.
As is the forthcoming D60 SUV – but that’s more of a matter for Parkers cars.
The Harris Group, meanwhile, is celebrating being appointed the official supplier to Malta and Cyprus, which means its now covers every right-hand drive European market.
LDV in the UK continues to move towards the goal of appointing 30 dealerships in 2018, something it was hoping to complete by the end of 2017.
A very wide range of LDV V80s are on display at the CV Show, from vans to minibuses to campers. If low cost remains your absolute priority, they’re worth a look.
Also read:
A-Z of the CV Show on Parkers Vans
Full review of the LDV V80 on Parkers Vans
