New Launches
Show Report: CV Show 2012
What a cracking event the 2012 Commercial Vehicle Show turned out to be, thanks in no small part to Ford… Read More
Mitsubishi L200 4x4 Long-Term Test 1
We has just taken delivery of a Mitsubishi L200 4x4 Club Cab for long-term appraisal… Read More
Ford Transit ECOnetic Brief Test
We’ve been putting a SWB 100hp 2.2TDi Euro 5 Transit 280 ECOnetic through its paces… Read More
Renault Kangoo ZE 2011 European Launch
Renault is at the forefront of manufacturers offering a mass produced factory-built electric van… Read More
Fuso Canter 2011 European Launch
Fuso has completely revamped its range of light and heavy truck Canter chassis and chassis crew cabs… Read More
Iveco Daily 2011 European Launch
Iveco has introduced new, latest generation diesels to its Daily range, along with detail changes inside and out… Read More
Ford Transit 2011 European Launch
Ford takes the iconic Transit to the next stage with an all-new range of 2.2-litre Euro 5 diesels… Read More
Volkswagen Crafter 2011 UK Launch
VW’s large panel van has undergone a serious makeover with changes to the front-end styling and the cab interior, as well as new Euro 5 diesels… Read More
Ford Transit Connect Electric Brief Test
We spent a day with the battery-powered Connect to get a better idea of what it’s like to live with in its natural, urban environment. Read More
Mercedes-Benz Vito E-CELL Brief Test
Currently undergoing trials with selected fleet customers in the UK, we managed to get behind the wheel of a battery-powered Vito E-CELL… Read More
Volkswagen Crafter 2011 European Launch
Volkswagen’s Crafter has undergone a midlife makeover and gets a new front-end along with new Euro 5 engines… Read More
ePower introduces electric 3.5-tonner
An Alke XT320E 3.5 tonne dropside took pride of place on ePower’s stand at the recent IOG Saltex show. Rear- or four-wheel drive, short- or long-wheelbase, the XT range gets its power from military-spec, maintenance-free 13kWh lead acid batteries; a 26kWh pack is available as an option. Recharging takes seven hours for the former and 10 hours for the latter using a 13A domestic supply.An optional fast-swap battery pack, costing £8,800, can be swapped out in less than a minute by one person with a pallet truck.
The AC electric motor produces 16hp of continuous power, with a maximum of 32hp. The more telling figure, however, is the torque developed — 230Nm. This goes someway to explaining the excellent gross payload — 1,000kg — and the 1,500kg approved on-the-road towing weight; double this for the claimed non-public-road maximum.
Top speed is 40mph and the powertrain provides the XT320E with a minimum range of 60 miles. The transmission has four settings — Eco, Sport, Mountain and Towing — and the ultimate range will depend on which of these is selected, and of course how much of a load is on board.Designed for applications including facilities maintenance, estates management and landscaping ePower’s Alke electric truck is priced from £35,000 including batteries, making it a very cost-competitive, battery-powered 3.5-tonner. Finance packages are available and a full price list can be downloaded here.
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