Emerald Automotive recently unveiled its new electric delivery van, the Emerald t-001, which will be similar to a traditional delivery van, but with a 60-mile range in electric mode and a 400-mile range using its 7-gallon gas tank. (Pictures of the van can be seen here.)
“This vehicle has been specifically designed for fleet customers who drive 100 miles or more each day,” said Andy Tempest, CEO of Emerald. “These customers are spending a lot of money on gas, and they have requested an electric vehicle that won’t compromise on payload.”
The van is expected to reduce emissions by up to 80%, the company reports. And with fewer moving parts than purely gasoline-powered vans, Emerald’s hybrid electric van will also help to save on repair costs.
“A lot of electric delivery vehicles are so heavy they can’t haul much,” says Gary Marble, director of sales and communication at Emerald. “We’re bringing companies what they expect in a delivery vehicle, and it costs far less to operate.”
Last year, Emerald announced plans to manufacture its custom-built electric delivery vans in Hazelwood. The $175 million plant will bring about 600 jobs to the northwest suburb of St. Louis. Though the t-001 prototype unveiled this month was designed, built and tested in the United Kingdom, Emerald said it will produce the vehicle at its Hazelwood facility within the next two years. The company’s goal is to build 10,000 electric vans a year for fleet customers. The company will also target fleet customers in the European market.
