Watt Electric Vehicle Company has announced plans to build up to 5,000 new electric commercial vehicles per year based on its new state-of-the-art EV platform.
According to Watt, its Passenger And Commercial EV Skateboard (PACES), the innovative and highly flexible architecture, will allow the niche vehicle industry to meet the considerable challenges of transitioning to an electric future by providing a sophisticated, yet cost-effective EV platform “off-the-shelf”.
Highly customisable for different body styles, sizes and configurations, PACES can support any low-to-medium volume manufacturer, specialist vehicle converter or start-up, and complies with ISO regulations and European Small Series Type Approval safety standards, according to Neil Yates, founder and owner of Watt Electric Vehicle Company.
“Our PACES architecture and manufacturing processes are flexible and scalable, a first ‘off-the-shelf’ product specifically targeted for the low-to-medium volume industry capable of supporting any type of EV, with a cell-to-chassis structural battery system that optimises chassis stiffness and minimises vehicle weight,” he said. “We have been approached by multiple commercial vehicle manufacturers and fleet operators, who are in desperate need of developing the next generation of electric vans, trucks and buses.”
The cell-to-chassis system means batteries are fitted directly to the primary structure (rather than having a separate pack), optimising stiffness and minimising weight.
Fully supported by a leading UK-based EV technology supply chain, WEVC has undergone a comprehensive development process with PACES over the last two years and is market-ready.
Watt EV Company will reveal a first prototype electric commercial vehicle by the end of Q1 2022, a project that is supported by Innovate UK through its Transitioning To Zero Emission Vehicles Collaborative Research and Development competition.
Also, as WhichEV reported, the company has already unveiled its first model ever, the WEVC Coupe, inspired by the legendary Porsche 356 and powered by a 160 horsepower electric motor.