A game-changer is something new that alters an existing environment or activity.
Fully electric light commercial vehicles (LCVs) can be considered game-changers because they provide sustainable, emissions-free mobility for businesses, thereby helping to decarbonize the transportation environment.
At a news conference last Wednesday at the Manila Golf Club, Diamond Auto EV Corp., the distributor of Dongfeng Commercial Electric Vehicles in the Philippines, launched seven game-changers.
Presented first were the Rich 6 EV pickup truck and EV 30 panel van, with a passenger van, another panel van, a small truck cab & chassis, and two 6-wheeler light trucks scheduled to arrive later this year. SRPs range from P1.680M for the 1,100-kg payload EC31 cab & chassis to P3.35M for the 6-wheeler, 2,100kg payload EV 45 cab & chassis.
These LCVs are not hybrid electric vehicles (HEVs) or plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs) but battery-electric vehicles (BEVs) which are 100 percent, fully electric vehicles. Quite different from HEV, PHEV and BEV passenger cars and SUVs, they are utilitarian and, except for the passenger van, are built for transporting goods and cargo rather than people.
All are 4X2 with automatic transmission, a high-performance lithium iron phosphate battery that is IP68-rated sealed for waterproofing, and an electric, permanent magnet synchronous motor that is IP67 rated so that it can easily traverse flooded areas.
Energy workhorses
The electric workhorses are manufactured by China’s Dongfeng Motor Corp., which has focused on developing new energy transportation and since 2002 has exported its products to more than 100 countries in Europe, South America, the Middle East, Africa, and Southeast Asia. Dongfeng’s series of EV models have passed the EU certification, with five out of the seven coming here having NEDC (New European Driving Cycle) estimated driving distances ranging from 220kms up to 350kms. Two models have WLTP (Worldwide Harmonized Light Vehicle Test Procedure) driving range estimates aside from NEDC.
The advantages of fully electric vehicles over internal combustion engines (ICE) have been proven: reduced carbon footprint due to zero exhaust emissions, less moving parts, lower maintenance costs, less downtime, and savings from high fuel prices. What’s more, in Metro Manila, EVs are exempted from the traffic coding regulation that disallows a motor vehicle’s use one workday a week.
Fully electric pickup
Between the two electric LCVs presented by Diamond Auto EV Corp., the one that attracted more attention was the Rich6 EV pickup which is the first fully electric pickup in the local market. Offered at P2.760M, the Rich6 EV resembles the Nissan Navara because it was designed and built with Nissan technology. (Dongfeng Motor Group in China has a joint venture with Nissan.)
The Rich6 EV pickup has LED headlights, LED DRLs, a plush interior with an LCD instrument cluster display, rotary drive selector dial, rear view camera, reversing radar, ports for slow charging (AC) and fast-charging (DC), dual airbags, tire pressure monitoring, traction control system, vehicle dynamic control, hydraulic brake assist, automatic air conditioning, keyless entry, push-start button, ventilated disc brakes with ABS and EBD up front, independent double wishbone front suspension and rear leaf springs, aluminum alloy 6-stud wheels shod with 255/60R 18 radial tires. But it is a 4×2, so it is not for serious off-roading.
The Rich6 EV’s electric motor max output is 120 kW/161 hp and 420 Newton meters of torque. The 347 volts, 60.16 kWh lithium iron phosphate battery has an estimated driving range of 350kms and a charging time (on board) of 3 hours (from zero to 100%) fast DC charger and 12 hours slow AC charger. The battery, IP68-rated sealed for waterproofing can be completely immersed, can have up to 2,000 charges and up to 700,000-km battery life with an advanced liquid cooling system to maintain optimum battery system cycle life.
The EV30 has a lithium iron battery like the Rich6 EV’s but with less driving distance (220 kms) and less battery life (400,000 kms). The electric motor produces 70 kW (94 HP) and 230 Nm torque for a top speed of 90 kph. The barn door-type rear doors are designed for easier loading into the spacious rear cargo area. Priced at P1.9M, the EV30 panel van’s payload is 1,400 kg.
Hence, Diamond Auto EV Corp. president Monek Calimbahan acknowledged the presence of Electric Vehicles Association of the Philippines (EVAP) chairman emeritus Ferdi Raquel Santos, chairman Rommel Juan, and president Edmund Araga. Rommel Juan said that Diamond Auto EV Corp’s initiative aligns with EVAP’s goal to bring together industry players, government agencies and consumers to foster an EV ecosystem that is accessible, reliable, and environmentally responsible. He added that EVAP looks forward to the display of more new Dongfeng electric LCV models at the EV Summit taking place on October 19-21 at the SMX.
