Bedford first
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BRITAIN's first new commercial vehicle for 1984 — the Bedford CF electric one-tonne van — has gone into full-scale production at the Luton, Bedfordshire van plant. This is also Europe's first electric panel van to go into regular production.
The new van — part of a current £70m investment in the Luton plant — is the first phase in what Bedford's general manager, Mr J. T. Battenberg III, described as "the biggest facility and product development programme in Bedford's history."
The outcome of over ten years' joint development with Lucas (now Lucas-Chloride EV Systems), the new van features the latest electric-drive technology from Lucas-Chloride, coupled with the highly developed practicality of the Bedford CF panel van. As well as carrying out body design modifications to accept the electric drive system, Bedford engineers have also mounted major test programmes at the Bedford proving ground. Over 1,000,000 miles have been accumulated with prototypes both at the proving ground and operationally in trials with users.
Operationally, the CF electric van will provide 50-60 miles' range between battery charges and is capable of up to 50mph with one tonne payload.
Firm orders have already been placed for over half the initial production schedule of 175 units. Typical customers include the public utilities, notably electricity authorities, and firms operating regular local delivery runs. Export potential is being actively pursued, and already four pre-production units are undergoing evaluation in Australia.