UK Manufacturer Modec: First Commercial Electric Van To Gain EU-wide Approval

IN A FIRST for a commercial electric vehicle, UK manufacturer Modec has secured Europe-wide approval for its all-electric Modec van.

This will allow Modec to sell its vehicles in all EU member states without the need for individual national approval.

With strong demand for the purpose-built electric van, the company is appointing distributors across Europe, with dealerships now appearing in The Netherlands, Ireland, France, Spain and Denmark.

"Expanding to European markets was part of the original business plan," Modec CEO Bill Gillespie said.

"Many international businesses recognise the benefits of zero-emission Modec vehicles and demand continues to grow."

The Modec van is designed from the ground up for operation in urban environments.

The Coventry-based specialist manufacturer began production in 2007 and now has more than 150 vehicles on the road.

Modec vehicles are purpose-designed around a large, removable battery cassette. This, according to the company, makes them "future proof", allowing customers to utilise different battery capacities and chemistries as technology evolves.

The current unit takes about eight hours to charge.

Modec offers two battery options: a 100km range pack utilising lithium-iron phosphate batteries, and a 160km range pack with sodium nickel chloride batteries.

A higher range lithium-iron phosphate pack is in development and will be available later in 2009.

Each vehicle is estimated to save more than nine tonnes of CO2 per year.