EAVX, a subsidiary of JB Poindexter & Co (JBPCO), and REE Automotive, a provider of electric vehicle platforms, announced the companies’ new fully electric walk-in van (WIV) prototype will begin customer evaluation this summer.

The Class 5 vehicle debuts the EAVX body design powered by REE’s modular P7 platform, making it the first fully drive-by-wire walk-in van on the market, according to a company statement.

Evaluations of the new electric walk-in van will take place over several weeks in the Detroit metropolitan area. The pre-booked event will allow pipeline customers across retail, delivery and logistics segments to experience the vehicle, its groundbreaking technology, and secure production capacity on the path for 2023 deliveries.  

The walk-in van body is a new, ground up development and will be showcased for the first time on the REE P7 platform, which was unveiled in January 2022. The platform is intended to power Class 3-5 vehicles with payloads up to 8,800 pounds and range of 370 miles, along with all-wheel steering, all-wheel drive, and autonomous-ready capabilities. The vehicle is designed to provide unique user benefits, efficiencies, and flexibility that can be scaled across further applications and classes with the modularity and design freedom enabled by REEcorner technology.

The road testing demonstrates the maturity of the REE-EAVX next-generation modular walk-in van program for the North American delivery market, first announced in July 2021. The prototype body, which will have more details unveiled soon, is a step forward in EAVX’s mission to develop next-generation EV and AV powered delivery and work truck bodies and accessories as a business unit of JB Poindexter & Co (JBPCO), which has a leading position in the North American delivery market.

“This is an excellent proof point for EAVX’s unprecedented offering to accelerate commercial vehicle electrification for existing and new customers,” said John Poindexter, CEO and Chairman, JBPCO. “By partnering with REE for its innovative REEcorner technology and modular electric chassis, EAVX can leverage JBPCO’s proven history of creating excellent work truck and commercial vehicle bodies and accessories to design and manufacture the commercial electric fleets of all sizes and across markets.”