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Jun 07, 2023

Premium German carmaker BMW buys Chinese electric van to ferry its parts around Sydney

The Sydney-based dealerships of premium car maker BMW and its Mini brand have taken delivery this week of a fully electric van from Chinese carmaker LDV. BMW Group Australia announced on Tuesday that

The Sydney-based dealerships of premium car maker BMW and its Mini brand have taken delivery this week of a fully electric van from Chinese carmaker LDV.

BMW Group Australia announced on Tuesday that the LDV eDeliver 9 will be used to deliver parts and accessories to locations around metropolitan Sydney, decked out in BMW livery.

The LDV eDeliver 9 offers a driving range of up to 280 kilometres (WLTP) and boasts cargo carrying capacity of 10.9 cubic metres with a 1410 kg payload.

BMW will trial the eDeliver 9 for three months, during which time the company will assess the electric van’s operational viability. It says it will also use the trial to explore the possibility of increasing the number of EVs it uses to complete delivery and collection jobs.

“There are numerous advantages to a fully electric van on an operational level, chiefly zero tailpipe emissions and noise reduction,” said Peter Kallitsis, dealer principal at BMW Sydney and Mini Garage Sydney.

“This has benefits for our roadways and provides a cleaner option for our staff when they are working around the van and loading or unloading cargo in confined indoor areas.

“We look forward to seeing how the van performs during the trial phase as we consider all facets of our business and how we can all play an important part in lowering emissions while maintaining a high level of efficiency.”

Joshua S. Hill is a Melbourne-based journalist who has been writing about climate change, clean technology, and electric vehicles for over 15 years. He has been reporting on electric vehicles and clean technologies for Renew Economy and The Driven since 2012. His preferred mode of transport is his feet.