US start-up builds electric vans

The V81000 is an electrically powered van from the American start-up Chanje. With FedEx, a prominent customer could be won for the commercial vehicle.

After cars, electric drive is currently booming even in light commercial vehicles. In Germany, the first external customers drive the electric panel vans from StreetScooter to DHL, in the USA the hot-selling local start-up is Chanje.

The name sounds a little Chinese and fits the drive technology of the panel van. They are developed in China, and delivery vans are still being built there. Chanje is owned by FDG Electric Vehicles, based in Hong Kong, which will soon open an assembly plant in the United States.

FedEx gets 1,000 Chanje vans

In early summer 2018, the American commercial vehicle rental company Ryder ordered 500 electric panel vans from Chanje. A new large order can now be announced.

Parcel delivery and logistics service provider FedEx will add 1,000 Chanje V8100s to its fleet. FedEx will not purchase the vans directly from the manufacturer, but will rent the vehicles through Ryder. The service provider is also reported to want to build an adequate charging infrastructure in major metropolitan areas on the US west coast, as well as in Chicago and New York.

The electric drive with permanently excited synchronous motor delivers a maximum of 148 kW (201 hp) in the Chanje V81000. Its top speed is specified at 130 km / h. The lithium-ion battery should have a storage capacity of 100 kWh.

The panel van is 8.08 meters long and has a wheelbase of 4.94 meters. This makes it larger than the electric transporters from Merceds (eVito, eSprinter) and VW (eCrafter). Chanje should not appear in their home market for the foreseeable future.

There are currently no plans to export to Europe. The company, based in Los Angeles, does not mention prices either, because it only supplies fleet customers with whom individual terms are agreed.