The composite-body C-1000 electric delivery van from Workhorse Group (NASDAQ: WKHS) can travel 160 miles on a single charge. And that broadens its customer appeal, the company said.
“Achieving a 160-mile range has been a goal of ours for quite some time. It significantly expands the addressable market,” Workhorse CEO Duane Hughes said in a press release Thursday.
After long delays and significant cost pressures, Workhorse is building C-1000 and C-650 vans in Union City, Indiana. The company expects to make about 400 vans this year before ramping up production in 2021.
Positive check-offs position C -Series well
Recent checkoffs position the C-Series vans well among competitors. It is rated as a zero-emissions vehicle by California, The state also lists the C-Series as eligible for its voucher program that could save customers tens of thousands of dollars on a purchase.
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) allows the C-Series to be sold in all 50 states. As part of getting California’s blessing, Workhorse was required to test the C-Series on the EPA’s urban and highway driving cycles.
The C-Series’ body is constructed of lightweight composites. Its smaller battery pack configuration allows it to better handle the stop-and-start demands of last-mile deliveries than vans powered by internal combustion engines, Hughes said.
“By extending vehicle range and keeping production costs in line with competitors, we have opened up an extended range of possibilities in suburban and rural locations,” Hughes said, adding that less frequent charging reduces the customer’s total cost of ownership.
Related articles:
Workhorse narrows focus to last-mile electric vans
Workhorse gets jolt for zero-emission electric vans