The minivan segment in China continues to gain momentum, so the upcoming electric single-volume LEVC L380 has every chance of becoming a hit, and it will part of a large global family of commercial vehicles from the LEVC brand.
The abbreviation LEVC is practically unknown in Russia, but may soon become known, since at the beginning of last year the management of the Geely holding decided to turn LEVC into a large global commercial brand.
Let us recall that LEVC is the British company London Electric Vehicle Company, which the Geely holding created in 2013, previously it was known as the London Taxi Company. LEVC is currently a niche manufacturer of plug-in hybrid TX taxis and VN5 platform vans, using Volvo components and assemblies in their design. LEVC TX and LEVC VN5 are sold mainly in the UK, although there are left-hand drive versions for continental Europe and some Asian countries.
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As a global brand, LEVC will produce a variety of commercial electric vehicles. For the main family of vans and minivans, a modular platform SOA (Space Oriented Architecture) has been developed, which uses some elements of the SEA platform, well known from the passenger models of the Geely holding. The first production new LEVC product on the SOA platform will be a large minivan L380, seating up to 8 people with a seating formula of 2+2+2+2.
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At the end of last year, LEVC L380 surfaced in the electronic database of the Chinese Ministry of Industry as LEVC Xspace, but on the Chinese LEVC website the new product is announced as L380. Perhaps the Xspace is just some kind of L380, or the Xspace name has been abandoned altogether — at least in recent corporate photographs the minivan does not have the Xspace nameplate. LEVC PR people initially emphasized the aesthetic connection of the L380 with the huge Airbus A380 passenger aircraft, so the digital index more accurately reflects the concept of the minivan — spacious, luxurious, aerodynamic, modern.
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Overall length of LEVC L380 — 5316 mm, width — 1998 mm, height — 1940 mm, wheelbase — 3185 mm. The plate of the Chinese Ministry of Industry for the minivan so far states only one electric motor with a capacity of 200 kW (272 hp). Maximum speed is 170 km/h. Standard wheel sizes range from 18 to 20 inches. Curb weight — 2805 kg, gross weight — 3425 kg.
In general, the SOA platform is designed for commercial electric vehicles with a wheelbase from 3000 to 3800 mm, the overall length of the all-metal body can vary from 4860 to 5955 mm. The front suspension is a McPherson spring type, the rear is a pneumatic multi-link, although there will be simplified cargo versions with a rear leaf spring suspension. Battery capacity — from 73 to 120 kWh, maximum range on one charge — 695 km.
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The date for the full premiere of LEVC L380 has not yet been announced, but it will definitely take place this year, sales LEVC L380 in China is also due to launch this year. The minivan and other models on the SOA platform will enter the European market in the second half of the current decade.