Modec Electric Van Now on the Road
by Jacob Gordon, Nashville, TN on 04.28.06
Before the fabulous Maker Faire last weekend I had a chance to see “Who Killed the Electric Car?” at the San Francisco Film Festival. Of the intertwining stories told in this artful documentary, the one about hydrogen fuel cell as red herring is one of the most compelling. The Bush administration and many environmentalists alike continue to talk about fuel cell cars as if they’re about to pop up at our local dealerships, poised to solve our ills at any moment. In a news conference at a Washington gas station this week, House Speaker Dennis Hastert touted fuel cell cars as bringing relief to current high gas prices. He then rode off around the corner in a fuel cell car, but quickly hopped out and back into his waiting SUV (see the lovely photo montage). Electric vehicles and PHEVs (more commonly known as plug-ins) on the other hand are available now and can also provide relief for gas prices and environmental problems. The newly unveiled all-electric Modec delivery van is a case in point.
Earlier this week we got a glimpse of Mexico’s first hybrid delivery truck. Now comes the Modec. Currently available in England, the Modec has a 100 miles range, a top speed of 50 mph, and over two tons of carrying capacity. The Modec’s 70kW Zytec electric motor is powered by twin 288-volt sodium-nickel-chloride batteries (Li-Ion coming next year) which are partially replenished by the van’s regenerative breaking system. The battery pack sits behind the cab and can be swapped out for its eight-hour charge time. Modec is marketing their “economically, ergonomically, and environmentally friendly” electric commercial van as a money saver that dodges London’s congestion tax as well as road tax, goes 20,000 miles between services, and whose motor has only three moving parts. The Modec starts at $41,100 and comes in several configurations such as flatbed tipper. As an insightful person recently pointed out to me, electric vehicles are the only vehicles that can actually get greener as they get older. How? As the power in the energy grid gets greener, so do the cars that are powered by the grid. :: Modec
"Modec Electric Van Now on the Road"
It looks like it's still vaporware.
Why vaporware (pretty inadapted anyway for that sort of vehicle) ? It has been launched one week ago, and launched to the commercial market only three days ago. It may not be successful, but itsn't vaporware.
Has anybody checked out Tiger Trucks (www.tigertruck.co)? They curently have a full line of alternate fueled trucks, vans and three wheel NEV's. They also offer a choice of gas, E85, electric and even hybrid drive systems.
"...goes 20,000 miles between services..." Is this me who needs glasses or that I don't know get it right? Anyway, Modec batteries give an autonomy of 120 miles (190 km) to the vans. This isn't that bad at all for a delivery car.
That depends on the kind of work, and the route. I work for a vending company, and this would likely work outstandingly for route 1 which is on Sky Harbor airport and surrounding facilities, limiting both the speed and mileage used in the course of a day, very good for this kind of vehicle. On the other hand, route 4 which is my current route is northern Phoenix, and covers a huge area, roughly 65 miles of driving on average per day, much of it highways which puts the greatest strain on the charge state and makes the least use of the regeneritive breaking.
Still, it could be interesting.
Why vaporware (pretty inadapted anyway for that sort of vehicle) ?
They're using a CGI image, not a photo, and certainly not a photo of it "in action" that "now on the road" would imply.
There also seems to be no pricing, release date, or ability to order products from the website.
Errr... it's definitely real. See here for some video of it operating in London. http://www.bsn.org.uk/view_all.php?id=11629
Nice to see it's being produced here in the UK. Not seen any on the streets of London yet, but I'll be keeping a keen eye out.
Nice to see it's being produced here in the UK. Not seen any on the streets of London yet, but I'll be keeping a keen eye out.
I saw this truck in 'action' and it was fantastic to see. Well done modec!!
Saw a preview screening of Antony Minguella's "Breaking and Entering" last night (well worth seeing but that's another story) The Modec van featured prominently - and it looked good!
Modec this week won an order for 20 vans from two UK road maintenance companies. But watch out for the real news next week, when their bigger UK rival Smith EV http://www.smithelectricvehicles.com unveil their Edison range of vans at Europe's biggest commercial vehicles show. Modec will be at the same show of course, but Smith EV is expected to grab the worldwide headlines, especially when they announce who the customers are..
Well Modec have got Tesco as one of its first companys to sign up with them buying 15, you dont get many companies that are bigger in the maket they are after!. Smiths are not neccessarily bigger, their company overall is bigger but make mostly other types of vehicles, aparently the electic delivery side of the business is about the same size as Modec. Plus the smiths vehicle is a converted transit, its compremised in the loadspace.
Tesco have been experiencing problems with the vans supplied by Modec. Several breakdowns apparently, with Modec saying that Tesco have been over-working the vehicles(!)
HI ,had a visit to modec on 26th oct 07 and not only was i impressed by the product"as i must confess" it was in my head a neg before i even tryed product , and from the diesel env unsure of elec vehicles , but was very impressed with every thing , please try and drive before you make your mind up.Most of all the modec team have so much energy ,that i think they two have 3000v inside .A thumbs up from me , and thanks!
I think the Modec is a great addition to any delivery fleet.
It looks great and is green, and is priced competitively,
There are not many places where this truck can be used, but the routes it fits will give it a large enough market to make it successful. Because the battery pack can be improved to give it even more range, I expect that the speed and range will soon be increased when Li batteries become available.
I would like to see them put a "school bus" body on it for an additional market *(the van body with some windows and school buss seating).
Is there any word on possible imports to the US? I have a Mobile Chiropractic office that I would love to go green with!