Fully electric LDV eDeliver7 to arrive in 2024

LDV Australia will land a new mid-size electric van, the eDeliver7, with more than 300km WLTP range in three variants by early 2024.

According to the Chinese brand known elsewhere as Maxus, the new electric van will come standard with a 77kWh battery offering more than 300km of driving range, while an 88kWh long-range battery option boosts that to 380km.

It will be available in short wheelbase low roof, mid-wheelbase low roof and mid-wheelbase mid-roof.

Pre-production right hand-drive models on display at the announcement in Sydney last week all had three-seat front bench accommodation and were fitted with side-hinged ‘barn’ rear doors plus one side sliding door on the kerb side.

While the passenger side had a grab handle to help climbing up into the cabin, the driver’s side did not, although this is expected to be remedied by the time production models arrive in Australia.

No specifications were given for the new model at the Australian reveal, but given the eDeliver 7 has been on sale in the UK since August, that market – where it is priced from the equivalent of around $A92,000 – could act as a guide.

The eDeliver 7 has a front-mounted electric motor that in the UK market produces a maximum of 150kW and 330Nm. Maximum speed in Eco mode is 90km/h, or 120km/h in Normal and Power modes. Acceleration from rest to 100km/h takes 11.4-11.5 seconds, depending on the version.

LDV in the UK says an eDeliver7 with the 77kWh battery has a 318km WLTP combined range, equating to energy consumption of 27.5kWh/100km.

Rapid recharging the battery to 80 per cent takes 43 minutes, while a five per cent to full using an 11kW AC wallbox takes 8 hours.

Meanwhile the 88kWh battery version has the same outputs but improved energy consumption at 26.9kWh/100km and a range of 370km (both figures on the WLTP combined cycle).

Tare weight for the short wheelbase low roof is 2300kg, payload is up to 1200kg and maximum towing capacity (braked) is 1500kg.

The UK short low roof model is 4998mm long, 2030mm wide and 1990m high and has a 3000mm wheelbase. Cargo capacity is quoted at 5.9 cubic metres, with floor length of 2547mm, width of 1800mm (1390mm between arches) and 1328mm maximum height.

LDV Australia general manager Dinesh Chinnappa declined to comment on local specifications, only saying the local eDeliver7 would have “the full suite of ADAS systems”, but we can draw on the eDeliver7 UK spec for insight on what Australian safety specs may look like.

In the UK, eDeliver7 has forward collision warning and auto emergency braking, blind-spot monitoring, lane departure warning, lane-keep and lane change assist, rear cross-traffic alert, adaptive cruise control with stop-and-go function, driver fatigue alert and tyre pressure monitoring.

Although the models on display for the local reveal had a fairly traditional instrument cluster with a small LCD panel surrounded by analogue dials, the centre infotainment screen is a decent 12.3-inch size.

Pricing was not revealed at the presentation, but LDV Australia spokesperson Shaun Gerrard suggested that it would be competitive due to being a ground-up EV design rather than an adaptation of a diesel vehicle.

As for the prospects of a diesel Deliver7, the company is yet to fully confirm if or when such a model might arrive here.