When it comes to commercial electric vehicles, it’s clear where the action is — the last-mile delivery market. On the heels of GM’s announcement of a new EV delivery vehicle platform and business unit, Ford’s big plans for the e-Transit, Rivian’s Amazon tie-up, and other independent OEMs in various stages of design, production, and sales, comes yet another electric delivery van model.
Cenntro Automotive Group, best known for manufacturing low-speed electric utility vehicles, unveiled plans on Jan. 13 to expand its product portfolio with a purpose-built, all-electric Class 4 vehicle to serve the last-mile urban delivery market.
The CityPorter, aimed at fleets and logistics customers, offers a range of up to 220 miles, a payload of 5,700 pounds, 636 sq.-ft. of cargo capacity, and a top speed of 60 mph, the company said in a statement. The CityPorter will be equipped with telematics and can be integrated with other fleet applications such as route planning. Battery specifications were not announced.
Cenntro anticipates showcasing the CityPorter to U.S. fleets in the second half of 2021 and is currently looking at opportunities to engage in demo programs for U.S. and E.U. fleets.
To support the launch of the CityPorter, Cenntro plans to expand its manufacturing infrastructure in both the U.S. and Europe and open an engineering center in New Jersey in the second quarter of 2021. The company intends to work directly with fleets through a network of truck dealers and distributors.
