The IAA Hannover Transportation Show is a huge event in the commercial vehicle calendar, with all of the major van and truck makers showing off their latest launches. Among the unveilings from big brands like Ford, Renault and Stellantis were a series of reveals from lesser-known Chinese brands. Just as in the electric car market, these are set to shake up the status quo with keen prices and interesting tech. Here are the most interesting we spotted.
MAXUS eDeliver 5
MAXUS is already an established name in the European electric-van market, but its presence at Hannover included a facelifted eDeliver 5 – including a new chassis cab version. This bare back eDELIVER 5 makes it possible to fit box bodies, tippers or anything else a customer might require.
The chassis version is a world premiere, revealed alongside the larger eDELIVER 420L electric truck and a Robovan, which can drive autonomously and sort parcels as it moves.
DELIVAN
One of the more interesting new names at Hannover was DELIVAN, the new European-focused van brand from the more familiar car maker Chery – which also makes the big selling Omoda and Jaecoo products in the UK.
The company showed its first two production electric vans to the European market, covering two different sizes. These production models were joined by four converted vehicles demonstrating possible specialist applications, developed with European conversion partners.
The basic range includes L1H1 and L2H3 vans, while a chassis-cab model provides the basis for the specialist conversions. DELIVAN also presented three separate business divisions covering service, conversions and customisation, plus fleet technology.
The company plans a phased European market entry from 2027, with its European headquarters in Liverpool and Germany.
LINXYS GE30
LINXYS isn’t a name known by many European van buyers, but it might be soon if the impressive GE30 electric van was shown at Hannover is anything to go by.
The bug-eyed 4.85m long panel van has a “clear focus on urban delivery”, which is usually code for having a short range and limited payload – but the stats are very competitive. It can carry up to 1,390kg in a load space of up to 8.3m3 and has a choice of 50kWh or 60kWh batteries, giving a WLTP range of either 230 miles (370km ) or 295 miles.
Charging is either 11kW AC or DC rapid, but no speeds have been mentioned yet. The company also confirmed at the show that GE30 will be offered in right-hand drive, so a UK market launch seems inevitable. Just don't look at the company's other vans as they are a bit, well, silly.
Skyworth HONGTU V9
Skyworth is best known for its electronics business making TVs and the like, but it also dabbled in electric cars for the UK with the disappointing Skywell BE11. That’s the car which has the ‘honour’ of being the lowest rated review on the entire Electrifying.com site.
The company might fare better with its vans, as it arrived at Hannover with a substantial commercial-vehicle operation.
Among five electrified vehicles on its stand is the HONGTU V9, a huge all-electric panel van designed to rival the likes of the e-Transit and Renault Master. It sits alongside the company's even larger electric commercial vehicles, including the autonomous Z9 truck, but the V9 is the model of most relevance to van operators.
The right-hand-drive V9 is listed with a 100.9kWh CATL battery and a claimed WLTP range of up to 252 miles, equivalent to around 406km. A single electric motor produces 150kW, or 204hp. Two sizes are offered, with the smallest (confusingly) being listed as the L2H2 rather than starting with a L1H1. It measures 5,490mm long and has 9m3 of load space and a payload of 1,464kg.
The larger L3H4 model is 5,990mm and long and has a higher roof too, increasing the cargo space to 14m3 and shrinking the payload to 1,304kg.
The company has yet to establish a UK network to distribute the vans.
Foton CAVAN and TUNLAND
Foton is another Chinese manufacturer using Hannover to announce its European ambitions, with a range of ‘new-energy’ vehicles. Unlike some of the rivals it already has a distribution network for the UK though as it is set to be imported by the IM Group, which also brings in Isuzu, Mitsubishi and GWM.
The bluff-fronted CAVAN van is part of a wider Foton line-up that also includes electric trucks and hydrogen technology. The C1 uses a 66.67kWh battery offering a WLTC driving range of up to 199 miles (320km). UK-focused versions have also been listed with a 50.23kWh battery, 125kW peak motor output, a range of up to 168 miles (270km) and 20-80% DC charging in around 35 minutes. The Payload is 1,00kg maximum. Technology features include over-the-air updates, remote vehicle control, a Bluetooth key, a central screen, driver display and the usual suite of driver-assistance systems.
The company also exhibited the TUNLAND V9 PHEV, a full-size ladder-frame pick-up using hybrid technology rather than a pure-electric layout. The plug-in hybrid version combines a 2.0-litre turbocharged petrol engine with electric drive and a dedicated traction battery, giving a claimed electric-only range of around 84 miles and a total driving range of about 612 miles when the engine and battery are used together.
