Panasonic Joins Forces With Tropos Motors On eCUV
May 20th, 2019 • by MARK KANE, European Editor
Small, low-speed electric compact utility vehicles (eCUV) can be very useful and profitable compared to full-size trucks
Panasonic announced a partnership with Tropos Motors, a Silicon Valley-based manufacturer of low-speed electric compact utility vehicles (eCUV).
According to the press release, Panasonic wants to play a part in addressing the “right-sizing” trend on the market as the smaller EVs, like ABLE or ABLE XR, are able to cope with various tasks, while being more affordable to purchase. Additionally, theowner saves on maintenance compared to full-size trucks.
The Tropos Motors ABLE XR is equipped with a 26 kWh battery for up to 160 miles (257 km) of range. We assume that the battery cells are supplied by Panasonic.
"Panasonic is at the smart transportation forefront, addressing the “right-sizing” trend which acknowledges that commercial vehicles can be smaller with very few compromises but with a lot of added benefits. With low-speed electric compact utility vehicles (eCUV), benefits to the fleet owner include lower cost of purchase with a reduced cost of operation and maintenance, which equates to a quicker return on investment. Additionally, Tropos Motors’ eCUV, The ABLE™, offers unparalleled versatility combined with superior payload and towing capabilities with a significantly reduced environmental footprint.
Tropos Motors ABLE XR specs:
26 kWh lithium-ion battery packs
up to 160 miles (257 km) at speeds of 25 mph (40 km/h)
top speed is above 45 mph (72 km/h)
electric motor: 26 kW
Public Road Payload Capacity - 1,100 lbs (499 kg)
Closed Campus Payload Cap. - 2,000 lbs (907 kg)
Public Road Towing Capacity - 2,000 lbs (907 kg)
Closed Campus Towing Cap. - 3,000 lbs (1,361 kg)
* Payload and towing capacities are subject to change based on the bed package and accessories installed on the vehicle
