Local production going ahead for commercial EVs

ACE Electric Vehicles is a new Queensland-based outfit committed to assembling electric vehicles locally for sale to commercial-vehicle operators later this year.

The company's announcement was first published late last week in Fairfax publications. In the story, Greg McGarvie, ACE Electric Vehicles MD, says that in the third quarter of this year the company will introduce an electric pick-up named the 'Yewt' and a 'Cargo' van – both priced below $40,000.

“We are proud to be launching our first range of Australian electric vehicles,” McGarvie was quoted saying in the story.

“This is now a realistic proposition since our agreements on a new patented manufacturing process for electric vehicles.”

According to the story, ACE will add two more unspecified models to the range in 2019. The vehicles will be assembled locally from carbon-fibre panels produced in China. Once the local operation is profitable the company plans to undertake full manufacture in Australia.

"Once we hit around 10,000 units a year we can shift all building and manufacturing to Australia."

"We believe this is a first for Australia, the concept is based on a low CAPEX business plan – a highly skilled and experienced team with a passion for change, excellent infrastructure and an operational model for automotive manufacturing based on disruptive technology and business models," McGarvie added.

Powered by a 40kWHr battery, the two commercial vehicles will run up to 350km between charges, making the vehicles suitable for the urban delivery market. Specifications reveal the vehicles will require no more than eight hours to recharge from a domestic (10A) power outlet. The lithium-ion battery pack's capacity is rated at 23.2kWh.

Underneath, the vehicles run a combination of MacPherson struts at the front and a semi-trailing arm IRS system behind. Payload is listed at 500kg and ACE Electric Vehicles offers a host of optional extras, among which is electrically-assisted steering.

ACE Electric Vehicles has evolved from an energy management company named 'GetGreen', which made the transition into solar power equipment for farms before taking on its current iteration as an automotive brand. If the company should be successful, it may kick off an escalation in electric vehicle sales in Australia, a country that has been historically reluctant to buy zero-emissions vehicles.