Port Talbot based electric vehicle maker Stevens will launch its Zevan at the Europe’s biggest CV show in the NEC next week.

Stevens Vehicles, a British electric vehicle manufacturer launched only on 1 March this year, will unveil its UK-built Zevan on stand 12-640 at the CV Show from 15-17 April.

The van, shorter than a MINI but nearly 6ft tall, has a price of £11,995.

It has been designed to have the same 90kph maximum as trucks, and to give a range between lead-acid battery recharges of up to 56 miles.

An enhanced battery pack option increases range by 50pc but reduces payload by 125 kg. Several variants based on the 'ze' design are planned, including a car, taxi cab, pickup and long wheelbase derivatives.

The vehicle has also been designed to accept alternative drive trains, including a bio-diesel hybrid, and fuel cell technologies.

Director Peter Stevens said, “We are working with various developers of these new technologies to ensure we stay at the front of the field.”

Europe’s fastest growing business to business show is staged at the NEC next week.

The annual CV Show from 15 to 17 April 2008 will attract about 30,000 visitors and nearly 700 exhibitors.
The UK’s commercial vehicle market records 395,000 annual new registrations and is worth over £7 billion.
Commercial vehicles sales in the UK so far this year show a 6.9 per cent increase over the first three months of 2007 and Paul Everitt, the SMMT chief executive said, “Good order books suggest that the trend will continue through much of the year.”
Light commercial vehicles, up to 3.5-tonnes, take the Lion’s share of the CV market in the UK with almost 90,000 registrations in the first three months of this year.
Ford as always is the market leader with 26,309 sales, a 29.17pc share of this market sector. This is an increase of 3.34 pc over the same period last year.
Of the major manufacturers in this light commercial sector the largest growth for the first three months of this year has come from Mercedes-Benz with 6,245 registrations, an increase of 15.48 pc.
The SMMT say that vans and light trucks take pride of place at this year’s CV Show with nearly 200 vehicles on display from every important brand in the UK. Exhibits range from micro vans to 6.5 tonne high roof vehicles and the models include diesel, hybrid and electric power sources.
If show visitor’s requirements are for larger vehicles then the NEC halls are filled with the latest CVs and heavy truck models.
Outside the NEC there is another exhibition area where 48 HGVs, including 25 tippers plus street sweepers, 10 vehicle transporters as well as recovery vehicles, will be displayed.

©David Miles MilesBetterNewsAgency

Citroën’s new Berlingo range makes its world debut at the 2008 Commercial Vehicle Show – and will go on UK sale on 5 June. 

The all-new Berlingo is set to make a major impact in the light commercial vehicle market. It takes over from its predecessor, which was one of Europe’s most successful light commercial vehicles, with over 800,000 Berlingo vans sold worldwide.  With its proven pedigree, the new Berlingo is a giant step forward for the high-cube van sector.

The Ford Transit Connect SportVan will become a reality at the show.
Unveiled as a concept last year, reaction has been so positive that Ford quickly decided to put it into production and the finished model will be appearing for the first time next week.
It will go on sale in the autumn when prices will be announced, but the Ford Ranger Wildtrak with distinctive performance blue and white stripes scheme is available now at £20,900.