Depending on when you’re reading this, there are just 8 days until the doors open on the 2024 Commercial Vehicle Show at the NEC in Birmingham on April 23rd. Whilst, from a manufacturer or importer perspective exhibitor numbers have been down a little in recent years, things are looking up in 2024 with some familiar names returning, either in their own right or by dealer representation. Alongside show regulars such as Ford and Maxus with huge stands at opposing ends of Hall 5, you’ll find Mercedes-Benz and Iveco being represented and, for the first time in a while, Renault will be on hand to show its range of electric vehicles from the Kangoo through to the new Trafic and Master E-tech vans. It’s not just the big brands either – take a wander around the hall and you’ll see less familiar names, all eager to capture your attention. IA Electric Vehicles will debuting, and B-On will be displaying its new Pelkan electric van in the UK for the first time – Full details will be released on the 18th of April. New entrant Canoo, all the way from the US of A,(more on which later) is a first time exhibitor, a stand definitely worth checking out.
The show isn’t just about the vans though. Be it telematics, fleet management, security, internal fittings, bodywork and even finance, representatives from these suppliers will be on hand to answer any queries you may have. The show is on for three days, and admission is free upon registration. Click here to register.
As mentioned above. Californian company Canoo will be at the show. A name that isn’t familiar to most of us, the origins of the company can be traced back to 2017. Having recently purchased a substantial portion of the manufacturing assets of the failed manufacturer Arrival, it is claiming that high profile customers in the USA such as the US Postal Service, Walmart and NASA have bought its rather funky looking ‘Lifestyle Delivery Vehicle’ (or LDV, for short – an acronym that is somehow familiar…). Offered in the US with either a single 200hp motor or a dual motor producing a whopping 350hp, the van has a 79kWh battery providing a range of around 217 miles. Futuristic inside and out, this is a guaranteed head turner and it’ll be interesting to see if it makes its presence felt in the UK market.
With a number of challenges to face, it’s little wonder that pickup manufacturers are a little slower off the mark in bringing electric trucks to market than their van compatriots. Isuzu could well be the first to join Maxus in offering an electric pickup after the company announced that it would be exhibiting its electric D-Max at the Bangkok Motor Show. Although a concept vehicle at this stage, it is expected that it will have all-wheel drive together with that all-important 1000kg payload and 3500kg towing capacity, the truck having a 66.9kWh battery and a 176PS output from twin electric motors. Range is to be advised, but if you’re carrying a full payload and towing a heavy trailer, don’t expect to travel a long distance without a top-up.
