Skywell EC11, the first all-electric cargo van in Australia & More News Here

A brand new entrant to the absolutely electrical mild industrial van phase in Australia is the Skywell EC11 van. Built in China underneath the Skywell model, it is delivered to Australia by personal importer EV Automotive.

Very comparable in look and dimensions to a Mercedes Sprinter – the EC11 is in truth the first considerably sized absolutely electrical mild industrial van to be delivered to the Australian market. (Although extra are quickly to observe – see ‘competitors’ part under).

The EC11 is obtainable right here in two variants, beginning at $89,990 inc GST plus on street prices. It provides a 1.7 tonne load capability high-roof cargo van known as the e-cargo (pictured) and the e-crew, the place the identical physique is fitted with aspect and rear home windows and seating for 12.

At a gross weight of 4.994 tonne, it’s located neatly under 4.5t gross restrict for needing a truck licence – that means it may be pushed on a normal automobile licence.

The EC11 was first introduced at the Brisbane truck present again in May final yr, however as a consequence of many Covid delays and so forth, shipments have solely simply begun.

The first cargo was shortly shipped out to ready consumers and it was solely with the second cargo that one was reserved as a demonstrator – and I just lately had the alternative to take this automobile for a take a look at drive.

Driving situations

The take a look at drive concerned a roughly 110km spherical journey from Melbourne to Mornington and again, break up as a primarily freeway run all the way down to Mornington and the return journey involving principally 60 to 70km/h roads. (I ought to add a disclaimer right here that the importer did pay for my fish-and-chip lunch while in Mornington.)

Driving expertise

Start-up is simple, though nearly somewhat old style – the EC11 really makes use of a key ignition change on the steering column to convey it to life!

Once over the shock, it was nonetheless a easy matter to then modify the seating, mirrors and many others. One helpful addition is the use of a digicam rear-vision system in place of the regular mirror.

Whilst offering a superb field of regard as in comparison with what you’ll get from such a big van utilizing a normal mirror – it does take a little bit of getting used to refocussing the eyes to a display screen as an alternative of the regular lengthy imaginative and prescient used to view a mirror.

As for street manners, it was just about what you’ll count on of any van this dimension.

In truth it was straightforward to overlook it was an EV in any respect – aside from its noticeably quiet manners at site visitors lights as a consequence of the lack of engine vibration {that a} petrol – or in specific diesel – energy supply creates. Interestingly, being a industrial van and subsequently constructed to a worth, there may be little or no sound insulation.

This outcomes in a shocking quantity of drive prepare noise intruding into the cabin at larger speeds. Mind-you, that is nonetheless much less intrusive than you’ll discover in a diesel pushed equal – however coming from driving electrical automobiles for a few years, it was a tad disappointing that extra had not been fabricated from the potential for silent EV motoring.

ABS and ESC come customary (as required to fulfill the present Australian Design Rules for mild industrial automobiles). Plus, in contrast to many new automobiles on the market now, the EC11 additionally comes with a full-size spare wheel and jack.

Range

Starting out with 88% cost and an ‘available range’ estimate of 192km, we headed off on a mixture of principally 80 and 100km/h roads.

Arriving at the Mornington foreshore after 55km of driving, the battery gauge had dropped to 67% and the vary estimate was exhibiting a discount of 56km. Nicely correct – and one thing that ought to go a protracted solution to dispelling the potential for ‘range anxiety’ in drivers new to EVs.

(And definitely a far cry from the extremely inaccurate authentic Nissan Leaf driving vary ‘GOMs’ – or Guess-O-Meters – that spawned the time period ‘range anxiety’ in the first place.)

Based on a 21% drop in battery capability, it might seem that the vary estimate was being somewhat conservative and the EC11 is in truth able to an unloaded vary of round 250km to perhaps 300km in suburban situations the place it doesn’t exceed speeds of 60km/h.

Given the EC11 has solely been rated by the producer underneath the over-optimistic NEDC customary, that is heartening as the NEDC vary offered by Skywell is just 288km.

The importers say they’ve examined it underneath ‘real world’ situations and are glad to face by a spread of round 200 to 300km relying on load and driving situations – however with out full testing to the newer WLTP customary, it is going to be exhausting to reliably examine the driving vary of the EC11 with its future opponents.

Interior

Like most mild industrial automobiles, the time period simple (or maybe ‘Spartan’) would greatest describe the inside – however every part {that a} driver wants is there.

There is an 8 inch (200mm) central contact display screen providing Android or Apple Car Play performance for mirroring Google Maps etcetera, together with controls for a 4 speaker radio as nicely the regular sequence of driving settings and capabilities.

When reversing, the contact display screen doubles as a reverse digicam display screen exhibiting tips together with audible reverse sensing. Bluetooth performance for hands-free telephone calls can be included, and it was straightforward to handle the primary telephone capabilities by the steering wheel controls.

The driver’s binnacle is nicely laid out with each analogue and digital velocity readouts and a similar model on the right-hand aspect exhibiting instantaneous energy utilization gauge.

State of cost and remaining vary estimates are simply discovered inside the format, with the centre reserved for primary knowledge alternatives together with a visit pc and battery knowledge … and that’s about it!

Seating is straightforward with the regular changes, and the steering wheel provides each tilt and telescopic capabilities. The mirrors in addition to the driver’s and passenger’s home windows are all electrically operated.

Cargo area

Offering a rated payload of 1.7 tonne and nearly 12 cubic metres of load area, the EC11 is the first full-size mild industrial van to hit the Australian market. The cargo space comes customary with an aluminium checker plate flooring and a metal bulkhead between the cabin and cargo space.

Charging

The cost port is on the passenger aspect between the passenger and aspect sliding door. To entry it, you want to first open the passenger door to launch the flap. Like all new EVs offered in Australia, the EC11 2 is fitted with the kind 2 AC socket – in this case included right into a mixed CCS2 AC/DC socket.

(Note: the CCS2 socket is now used in all new Australian delivered EVs besides the Nissan Leaf and the Lexus ux300e). This means the EC11 is appropriate with the overwhelming majority of chargers in Australia.)

The EC11 can cost at up 7kW on a single part AC provide and as much as 22kW on a 3 part provide. It also can cost at as much as 60kW on a DC fast-charger. The EC11 comes customary with a transportable ‘emergency’ charger that may cost at as much as 13A (3kW) when plugged right into a 15A socket.

If utilizing a normal 10A energy level and moveable charger, the EC11 would take one thing like 33 hours to cost from 0 to 100%. Useful for emergencies to get you to a fast-charger, however impractical for day after day use. For quicker charging it’s best to make use of a devoted charger.

The approximate charging instances for the EC11 are proven in the desk under (Note: charging speeds and instances fluctuate on the capability of the charger it’s related to).

AC charging: 0 – 100% time*				DC charging: 0 – 80% time*
10 A (eg: energy level)	15 A, single part (eg: caravan outlet)	32 A, single part (eg:  dwelling charger)	16 or 32 A 3 part (eg: public AC charger)	DC Fast cost (50kW)	DC Fast cost (100+kW)
33h	22h	11h	16A: 8h 32A: 4h	2h	1.5h

Table 1: Estimated charging instances for the Skywell EC11
* Note: these charging instances are estimates solely and never endorsed by the producer.

Towing

The EC11 is rated for 1250kg with trailer brakes and for 450kg with an unbraked trailer. It is vital to notice right here that EV driving vary can lower considerably when towing.

Purchasing, guarantee and repair

Purchasing is finished by the importer’s web site (https://ev-a.com.au/) with deliveries offered by appointed brokers in all main cities.

It is price noting right here that this gross sales mannequin is changing into more and more widespread for EVs on the Australian market – together with the Hyundai Ioniq 5 in addition to all fashions from Polestar, BYD and Tesla. Warranty and repair work is offered by the nationwide MyCar service and restore community.

Competitors

At the second, the EC11 e-cargo is the solely 4.5t full-electric van obtainable in Australia – with the solely full-electric ‘competitor’ being the ageing Renault Kangoo ZE with a load ranking of 650kg and towing capability of 320kg.

When it involves electrical passenger bus choices, the solely present competitor to the EC11 e-crew is the just lately arrived Joylong E6 commuter bus. (Note: the Joylong has seating for 14 individuals and as such, can’t be pushed utilizing a normal automobile licence). Price-wise, there may be nothing to separate the two as the Joylong E6 commuter bus is priced nearly identically to the EC11 e-crew van.

The first direct competitor to the EC11 e-cargo shall be the Ford e-Transit arriving later this yr. Similar in most load ranking, bodily dimension and battery capability, it’s anticipated to reach with a US EPA vary of 201km and WLTP vary of round 349 – that means it doubtlessly has the same driving vary to the EC11.

The e-Transit will, nonetheless, sport a much bigger centre touchscreen (at 12 inches/305mm) and over-the-air updates.

The most AC charging fee for the e-Transit might solely be 11kW (versus 22 for the EC11), however DC charging for it’s going to prime out at 115kW – which is nearly double that of the EC11. Pricing for the e-Transit has but to be launched, however abroad pricing suggests it is going to be just like the EC11.

After that, the mild industrial automobile market will begin to hot-up as the smaller 1t e-Transit customized is due someday in 2024, in addition to the chance of full-electric twin cab utes from LDV and BYD, plus the extremely anticipated Rivian R1T ute.

Summing up:

The EC11 is a really succesful all-electric, full dimension mild industrial van that shall be very best for changing fossil fuelled vans used for native supply runs and ‘last-mile’ operations. With 22kW AC charging, it provides wholesome recharge instances offered a 3 part 22kW charger is put in at the enterprise premises.

DC charging at 60kW max is nice, nonetheless the ‘charging speed advertising battle’ is now entering into full-swing and it’ll quickly be overtaken for quick-charge instances when its opponents start to reach.

In truth, the EC11 is just let down by its barely noisy EV drive prepare and the lack of ability to simply examine its vary and effectivity to imminent fashions by not having been examined to the WLTP customary.

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