Volkswagen Reveals Electric Delivery Van Concept

A year after the emissions scandal first rocked Volkswagen, early electric vehicles are now coming through the pipeline. The latest concept, the e-Crafter, is an all electric delivery van designed for cities and towns.

With a top speed of only 80 kmh (about 50 mph) the e-Crafter won’t be tearing it up on the salt flats, or even the highway, but the idea is for it to be a short haul delivery van.

Even though its floor has been lined with 312 battery cells that can be recharged to 85% in 45 minutes, the cargo capacities are unchanged from the regular Crafter. The e-Crafter can haul up to 3,700 lbs and has a cargo capacity of 399 cubic feet.

Apart from the terrible decals along the side, the C-shaped headlights, and the unique Reef Blue Metallic paint, the e-Crafter basically looks just like a regular Crafter.

For now, it has a range of 200 km (nearly 125 miles), but Volkswagen says that the e-Crafter was designed to accept future electric technology. As a result, they predict future e-Crafters could get up to a 250 mile range.

Volkswagen’s move is about more than just atoning for the sins of the TDI, though. The e-Crafter was designed to have an electric option from the very beginning, a decision that probably had to do with tightening European regulations in city centers, and that predates the scandal.

Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles is also a reasonably important wing of the empire, selling more than units MAN and Scania combined, and even outselling SEAT and Porsche, by volume. So looking like a forward thinking brand is good for Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles.

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