SEA Electric reveals SV6 van in bid to capture last-mile market, with V2G

Australian-born SEA Electric has unveiled the new SV6 electric van at America’s largest work truck event, describing it as a “game-changer” for the last mile delivery market.

With a 138kWh battery hooked up to the company’s proprietary 120b drivetrain delivering 250kW power and a massive 2,501Nm torque, the SV6 van offers an unladen driving range of 273km, as well as vehicle-to-grid charging capabilities that mean it can also act as a power source while parked.

Its 26,000lbs (11,793kg) GVWR places it in the Class 6 category, and SEA Electric says that there are also plans afoot for vans in the Classes 3, 4 and 5.

Design-wise, the SV6 has all the appearance of an armoured truck, but on closer inspection is the perfect foil for company branding, with flat box-like walls and roof to which vinyl can be applied easily.

Its real selling point however is that it represents “the lightest, most cost-effective and best-performing solution available,” according to SEA Electric, which it attributes this to a medium-voltage architecture and no need for active thermal management of the battery.

While exact pricing is not publicly available, SEA Electric boss Tony Fairweather said in a statement that, “Our users can fully expect to recover any purchase price premium within a maximum 5 years.”

In the US, he added that, “this return is often bolstered further depending on state or local initiatives available.”

“When compared to a traditional internal combustion-engined vehicle the benefits extend far beyond energy efficiencies. From an operational perspective, lower maintenance and running costs, are a given, with the elimination of diesel consumption and fewer moving parts minimising service costs,” he said.

The SV6 battery, which are mid-mounted for improved driving dynamics and safety, can be charged at a top rate of 100kW on a fast charger.

With a sizeable footprint in the US market – where it is now headquartered – as well as in Australia, SEA Electric has also recently expanded into Europe.

It says it has the capacity to deliver 60,000 electric trucks and vans a year, and has seen recent success in a deal with Midwest Transit Equipment in the US to convert 10,000 school buses.

The Driven has contacted SEA Electric to try and confirm Australian availability and pricing.