New Scottish EV 4×4 manufacturer, Munro Vehicles, is displaying its Munro MK_1 production prototype for the first time this week at the Low Carbon Agriculture 2023 show which is running near Coventry in the UK.
Designed for use in the challenging conditions of farming, construction, mining, etc in addition to recreational use, the MK_1 has been deliberately built as a simple, easy to maintain vehicle for rugged conditions.
This includes a commitment to recognise the customers’ right to repair and maintain their vehicle without invalidating its five-year / 100,000-mile (160,000km) warranty.
According to Munro Vehicles, the Mk1 is engineered to “provide a unique solution for those wishing to minimize their environmental footprint without compromising off-road ability, performance and practicality.”
Munro CEO Russell Peterson, who co-founded the company with Head of Powertrain Ross Anderson in 2019, makes the point that “Meeting the demanding needs of the agriculture sector was foremost in our minds when we were developing the Munro MK_1.
“Spending much of my formative years on a farm and then running my own agricultural contracting company, I know only too well how important it is to have proper, proven kit that you can rely on whatever the weather and the conditions, and that won’t let you down no matter how much abuse you throw at it. And every Munro is engineered around those enduring values.”
The MK_1 will be offered in three trims: Utility, Range and Performance. Specifications for the Munro Mk_1 include a 280kW motor, 300km for the Range version (or up to 16 hours off-road use) and a 3,500 kg tow rating in the Performance trim.
Munro is also committed to implementing a low carbon manufacturing process utilising a fully electric factory with 100% renewable energy, as well as a design that is meant to last rather than encourage buyers to replace the vehicle every few years.
To this end, Munro tout that its vehicles “provide maximum return on their initial carbon investment. Instead of selling a new vehicle every three years, we intend to create a circular value chain by offering manufacturer-supported options for refurbishment and upgrade”
Pricing in the UK starts at £49,995 (Au$87,000) with deliveries expected to begin later this year.
As a start-up, Munro Vehicles plans to build 50 only vehicles in 2023 before transitioning to a new purpose-built site near Glasgow in 2024. From there, production will be ramped up to 250 vehicles per year with a strategic roadmap in place to deliver 2,500 units annually by 2027.
Munro Vehicles has been contacted for when/if they plan for an Australian release. This article will be updated as soon as The Driven receives a reply – I am sure there are many farmers and miners here that would love the opportunity to buy one!
Fuller specifications for the Munro MK_1 below:
POWERTRAIN
PEAK POWER: 220kW | 295hp
PEAK TORQUE: 600Nm | 443ft-lb
MAXIMUM ROTOR SPEED: 5000RPM
MAXIMUM ROAD SPEED: 129km/h | 80mph
ACCELERATION: 7.6s (0-100 km/hr) | 7.6s (0-60 mph)
CONSUMPTION: 27.6kWh/100km | 2.25mi/kWh
TRANSMISSION: Two-speed central transfer case with locking differential
AXLES: Front and rear rigid beam axles with lockable* differential
TRACTION: Permanent mechanical four-wheel drive
BATTERY
CAPACITY: (gross/usable)
Utility version: 61.2/56.3kWh
Range and Performance version: 82.4/75.8kWh
SYSTEM VOLTAGE: (nominal) 388.5V (384.8V for Utility version)
ARCHITECTURE: Modular
CELL CHEMISTRY: Lithium Nickel Manganese Cobalt Oxide
CONDITIONING: Dynamic (liquid) cooling and heating
DRIVING RANGE
275km (mixed driving including highway); Utility version: 204km
306km (optimal conditions); Utility version: 227km
245km (adverse conditions); Utility version: 181km
137.5km (towing); Utility version: 102km
CHARGING
MAXIMUM CHARGE RATE (DC): 70kW (Utility); 94kW (Range and Performance versions)
15-80% CHARGE (DC >100kW): 36 min
15-80% CHARGE (DC >50kW): 46 min (61 min Range and Performance versions)
MAXIMUM CHARGE RATE (AC): 6.6kW (22kW optional in Range, standard in Performance versions)
15-100% CHARGE (AC 6.6kW): 6.9 Hours (Utility); 9.2 Hours (Range and Performance versions)
5-100% CHARGE (AC 22kW): 3.0 Hours (Range and Performance versions)
MASS & CAPABILITY
KERB WEIGHT: 2500kg
MAXIMUM PAYLOAD: 1000kg
GROSS VEHILCE WEIGHT: 3500kg
MAXIMUM TOWING CAPACITY (BRAKED): 2500kg; 3500 kg (Performance)
MAXIMUM TOWING CAPACITY (UNBRAKED): 750kg
MAXIMUM COMBINED WEIGHT: 5180kg
MAXIMUM GRADE (KERB WEIGHT): 38% (high range) 102% (low range)
MAXIMUM GRADE (GVW): 20% (high range) 59% (low range)
MAXIMUM GRADE (GCW): 18% (high range) 37% (low range)
BODY: Galvanised steel body-on-frame
SUSPENSION & CLEARANCE
SUSPENSION: Coil sprung with shock absorbers
APPROACH ANGLE: 84°
DEPARTURE ANGLE: 51°
RAMP (BREAK-OVER) ANGLE: 148°
MINIMUM CLEARANCE (TO BODY): 480mm | 18.9inches
PASSENGER COMFORT
CLIMATE: Climate control with heat pump
SEATING: 1st Row seating with deletion of second row
WHEELS & TYRES
WHEELS: Steel
TYRES: Standard all-terrain
LIGHTING
HEADLIGHTS: LED
DAYTIME RUNNING LIGHTS: LED
TAIL LIGHTS: LED
FRONT AND REAR INDICATORS: LED
REVERSE LIGHTS: LED
FOGLIGHTS: LED
CABIN LIGHTING: LED (strip)
LOAD AREA
LENGTH (AT FLOOR): 1028mm | 40.5inches
WIDTH BETWEEN ARCHES: 1166mm | 45.9inches
WIDTH ABOVE ARCHES: 1571mm | 61.9inches
HEIGHT: 1076mm | 42.4inches
VOLUME: 1600litres | 56.5cu ft
Bryce Gaton is an expert on electric vehicles and contributor for The Driven and Renew Economy. He has been working in the EV sector since 2008 and is currently working as EV electrical safety trainer/supervisor for the University of Melbourne. He also provides support for the EV Transition to business, government and the public through his EV Transition consultancy EVchoice.