Bradshaw Envirovan cleans up in the city
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• Electric vehicles specialist John Bradshaw of Peterborough has launched a purpose-built electric van giving a range of 50 miles and a lap speed of 30mph for inner city, zero emission operation.
The Envirovan, weighing just under two tonnes, gives a payload of 680kg and a 5.5m3 load volume. It uses an on-board charger, which can plug into any 24V household socket, to replenish its 12-lead acid batteries supplying the 72V system used to drive a 20hp General Electric motor. Voltage is reduced for the ancillaries through a DC-DC convertor to 12V. The battery pack is said to be good for 1,000 recharging cycles and can be replaced for less than 21,000.
The all-steel bodied van is built on a tubular chassis but there is an option of a cheaper GRP chassis cab. Running costs are estimated at 3p per mile and maintenance costs are light. Fully laden the vehicle is claimed to accelerate up to 25mph in less than 16 seconds.
Managing director John Bradshaw says: 'We have taken the chassis and driveline developed by our US partners and added 20 years of our own experience in designing electric vehicles." He believes that the time is right for a resurgence of the electric-powered light commercial vehicle, as commercial interests become more environmentally aware. In America, General Electric has sold more than 500 vehicles in the past two years. Prices range from £11,800 to £17,800.