Munro Vehicles has unveiled the MK_1, its first vehicle capable of operating for up to 16 hours on a single battery charge.
The Munro uses a 280kW electric powertrain to ensure zero tailpipe emissions, the company said. It can transport a crew of five to the most rugged locations, accommodate a 1,000 kg payload and has 3,500 kg towing capacity.
The company said it has received deposits for the made-in-Britain 4x4s that it will hand-build next year. Priced from £49,995 (excluding VAT) in five-door, five-seat, 130-inch wheelbase Utility guise, the Munro MK_1 has been built to be fully operational in 30, 40, 50 years’ time, the company said.
Recalling how the idea came into being, CEO Russell Peterson – who along with Ross Anderson co-founded the company in 2019 – said they were driving a fossil-powered off-roader through the highlands, which struggled on the steep climbs. “So, we were musing how much better it would be with an electric motor.”
On the return journey, they stopped at a café in Braemar, where a bank of 50kW rapid chargers sat idle. Parked next to it was a large group of combustion-engined safari adventure 4x4s that had to be replaced eventually. “It dawned on us that there was a gap in the market for an electric-powered, four-wheel-drive, utilitarian workhorse,” he said.
The Munro is offered with a choice of two electric motors, 220 kW and 280 kW, along with the option of two battery packs, 61kWh and 82kWh, affording an optimum range of up 190 miles, the company said. The battery pack comprises 35 state-of-the-art Lithium NMC battery modules. A fully integrated heat pump-based thermal management system bolsters efficiency, and the battery pack is guaranteed to deliver 80% of its original energy capacity for at least eight years and 100,000 miles, the company said.
Unlike other EVs where the battery is designed to last the life of the car, the Munro MK_1 is engineered to last several decades, so the company will recondition or replace the battery pack when due. It is offered with a choice of two AC charging options, 7kW to replenish the battery overnight, and 22 kW, which provides a full charge in around three and a half hours. An industry-standard DC CCS charger is also provided, enabling the battery to be replenished in just over 30 minutes, the company said.
Every Munro is geared for torque, with a top speed of 80 mph, and the 280 kW Performance version can surge to 62 mph in a mere 4.9 seconds. The vehicle has been designed to have a near 50/50 front/rear weight distribution, which enhances agility off-road.
“Peak torque of 700Nm is available up to 50mph, which ensures excellent response off-road. It also means the Munro can effortlessly tow a braked trailer weight of up to 3500kg,” said Anderson, Head of Powertrain. “Whether it’s a mini digger, a power generator or livestock that needs transporting, the Munro makes light work of it.”
The company has received several deposits for the Founders’ edition from customers in the UK, Switzerland, St Lucia, and Dubai and will produce the vehicles at its East Kilbride headquarters in 2023.
Scotland’s only production car company, Munro Vehicles will build 50 vehicles in 2023 before transitioning to a new purpose-built site near Glasgow in 2024. This will ramp production up to 250 vehicles per year with a strategic roadmap in place to deliver 2,500 units annually by 2027.