Modec's Electric Powered Delivery Van Meets The Mark

Modec Delivery Van
(Photo: Modec Ltd.)LONDON (May 4, 2006) - A new delivery van has been launched by British-based Modec Limited, which may revolutionize urban delivery. Trevor Power, Modec's business development director says, "We expect to enable these vehicles compete with mainstream alternatives for urban delivery applications." The Modec van is the first zero emissions delivery van that is comparable in economy and performance to diesel- or gasoline-powered equivalents, which, says Modec, makes it a real and viable urban delivery vehicle. The cab-forward van is emissions free - producing no fine particulate matter, carbon dioxide, oxides of nitrogen, hydrocarbons (such as benzene) or other volatile organic compounds.  Clean and green performance Designed with large fleets in mind, such as couriers, and powered using modern battery technology, the van can cover more than 100 miles on a single charge and reach a top speed of 50 mph while carrying a full payload. Power says that the Modec weighs 7,700 pounds curbside, and could carry a payload of 4,400 pounds, resulting in a gross vehicle weight (GVW) rating of 12,100 pounds. The Modec van is expected to retail at a base price near $34,000.

Modec Battery Pack
(Photo: Modec Ltd.) Power explains that the motor and drivetrain are mounted transversely at the back of the vehicle. There's one gear for normal operation (zero to 50 mph) in addition to neutral and reverse, so it's equivalent to having an auto shift on a gas engine. He adds, "We have a second lower gear for very steep inclines - it will do a 1 in 3 hill, fully laden with 2 tonnes [4,400 pounds]." Power notes that the Modec van has been designed to be nimble, accelerate quickly and climb steep grades with a full payload. The motor is custom designed: 76Kw/102 horsepower, water-cooled, permanent magnet and brushless. It delivers 300Nm of torque and is easy to operate and maintain, with only three moving parts in the electric motor, instead of the usual 300 in the average diesel van engine.  The motor and the vehicle control system (nominally 288 volts) are supplied by the Zytek Group. Zytek is a racing engine and controls company with experience in hybrid and electric vehicles, in addition to its ownership of Reynard and involvement in providing the vehicles and engines for both the A1GP race and Formula 3000 series.  The right power source for the task Two molten sodium-nickel-chloride Zebra batteries, located in the center of the chassis, are the key to the van's extended range, speed and payload capacity. The batteries are manufactured by MES_DEA in Switzerland and supplied to Modec by their U.K. distributor, Beta R&D. Each pair of parallel batteries are built into a cassette provided by Axeon Power- and measure 7.9 x 3.9 x 1.0 feet, and weighing in at a total of 1,760 pounds. The molten chemistry of the advanced battery operates at 350