Electric commercial vehicle under test: Austrian Post tests Sevic V500e in practical use
Practicality, range, reliability – when it comes to its delivery vehicles, Austrian Post makes no compromises. Because the issue of environmental compatibility is also taken particularly seriously, Austrian Post will deliver all letters, parcels, print media and advertising mail over the last mile 100 percent emission-free to customers by 2030 at the latest. Since 2022, the delivery fleet has been expanded exclusively to include electric vehicles, and up to 1,000 e-vehicles are now to be purchased each year.
In the compact vehicle segment, Austrian Post has been testing the V500e vehicles of the European manufacturer Sevic in this context since the beginning of April 2023. The V500e is a fully electric light commercial vehicle of the L7e-CU class that received the overall vehicle type approval for the European Economic Area (ECWVTA) in March 2023.
“Zero-emission delivery is enormously important to us. We recently put the 3,000th electric vehicle into operation, which means we already have the largest e-fleet in the country. But we also know that we still have a long way to go. On this path, small and flexible transport vehicles that are particularly suitable for city logistics are also important to us,” says Matthias Hofmann, Head of Strategic Network Planning and Control, Austrian Post. Attributes that qualify the Sevic V500e as an ideal test candidate. In addition to the transport box currently used by Österreichische Post AG with two rolling doors (at the rear and on the side), Sevic offers nine other standard body options and box systems. Boxes with different options, such as rolling or folding doors, are available as variants. In addition, various flatbeds are available. In addition to the bodies already offered from the factory, customized systems are also available. All these superstructures can be easily exchanged within a few minutes using a standard forklift truck thanks to the patented Cargo Swap system.
Particularly ideal for delivery in narrow residential areas
The vehicle is also flexible in terms of range and purchase price: the standard battery size with 16.5 kilowatt hours (kWh) and up to 150 kilometer range costs €24,900 net (plus bodywork and transfer); the long-range model with a 33-kWh battery and up to 300 kilometer range (confirmed by TÜV Nord) is available for €29,500 net plus bodywork and transfer. Austrian Post is testing both models, with the vehicle with a range of 150 kilometers being used primarily in urban areas. The long-range model will prove its qualities in traffic between cities and towns and with corresponding gradients.
“The fact that two of our vehicles are currently allowed to display the characteristic Austrian postal yellow makes us very proud. We are sure that our V500e will fully convince in the test,” says Daniel Dietrich, International Sales Manager Sevic. “Thanks to its compact dimensions, the V500e has major advantages over conventional vans. The vehicles are ideal for deliveries in narrow residential areas in particular, can find a parking space almost anywhere and don’t take up much space even in the second row. The roll-up door across the entire width and length of the box makes it possible to load and unload very quickly. This shortens standing times enormously,” adds Nicolas Tran, who is in charge of the Austrian market launch of the Sevic V500e for the agency brandkitchen GmbH.
About Sevic:
Sevic Systems SE designs, engineers and manufactures in Europe compact all-electric commercial vehicles that are adaptable, flexible and cost-effective, helping companies reduce maintenance, labour and operating costs. The vehicles use smart architecture with interchangeable cargo structures and are ideal for last-mile solutions. The range includes freight boxes for the last mile, customised boxes for postal services, flatbed vehicles for municipalities and many other customised solutions.
Sevic is strategically located in the industrial heart of Germany (Bochum) and has extensive expertise thanks to various success stories in the mobility sector.
The production facility in Bulgaria/Europe is a state-of-the-art facility operated in a joint venture with Milara International Ltd – a world leader in robotics manufacturing.
