Back in January, REE Motors began testing a new electric vehicle chassis for trucks and buses, called the P7. Now, the company has partnered with JB Poindexter’s EAVX and Morgan Olson to begin field demonstrations and customer evaluations of a new step van prototype based on the platform.
The P7 platform was developed for Class 3 to Class 5 vehicles with a payload of up to 8,800 pounds (3,991.6 kg) and a range of 370 miles (595.5 km) per charge. REE corners technology crams the motor, brakes, suspension and steering system all into a compact corner unit behind each wheel.
For the Proixa step van prototype, the ultra-flat X-by-wire skate chassis features a 120 kWh battery pack with a range of 125 miles (200 km) per charge and four 100 kW electric motors – each producing 100 lb-ft (136 Nm) of peak torque and increasing the vehicle’s top speed to 75 mph (120 km/h).
The new body of the all-wheel drive electric commercial delivery van is a joint effort by EAVX and Morgan Olson to achieve “maximum efficiency with significantly reduced drag without sacrificing functionality.
In addition, the instrument panel, windshield and side/rear view screens have been optimized for maximum visibility and reduced blind spots, while a single control system allows connected technologies to communicate with each other and assist the driver.
The Class 5 vehicle is 28.4 ft (8.7 m) long, 7.74 ft (2.4 m) wide and 9.3 ft (2.9 m) high and can haul up to 8,000 lb (3,630 kg) of cargo behind it. With 19.5-inch wheels, it has a relatively small turning radius of 25.26 feet (7.7 meters) thanks to all-wheel steering and torque vectoring.
Fleet operators and technology companies now have the opportunity to see the Proxima prototype in action and book customer evaluations ahead of production and availability in 2023.
These events are an incredible opportunity for leading courier companies and fleet managers to see first-hand how the pairing of Proxima with REE chassis responds to the demand for fast, efficient and low total cost of ownership electrification options,” said Daniel Barel, co-founder and CEO of REE. These live demonstrations will convey the value and efficiency that REE’s x-by-wire technology can bring to fleets, and the power of pairing this revolutionary chassis with high-tech bodies from EAVX and Morgan Olson. We’re excited to get it on the road and help electrify the future of commercial fleets.”
