LEVC launches new pure-electric advanced mobility solution

Coventry-based LEVC (London Electric Vehicle Company) has launched its new pure electric vehicle (EV) technology which will provide the foundation of its transformation from a high-end taxi manufacturer, to a leading provider of e-mobility solutions.

With more than a century of ‘mobility’ in its DNA, LEVC has been focused on meeting the needs of society by transporting people around urban areas, in purpose-built vehicles, tracing its roots back to 1908. Building on this rich heritage, LEVC’s new strategy will deliver smart, green, safe and accessible mobility for all, through a new range of ‘state of the art’ EVs, under its vision — “a sustainable mobility future, for a better world.”

Underlining this commitment, LEVC last week unveiled the foundation for a range of next-generation new products, its new EV platform — Space Oriented Architecture (SOA). Co-developed with Geely Holding Group, SOA is modular and scaleable, the world’s first EV platform focused on setting new standards for onboard space, bringing interior-optimised zero-emission mobility to more consumers than ever before, while enabling LEVC to enter new sectors.

Developed over the past 2.5 years at R&D centres in China, Sweden, the UK and Germany, SOA’s unprecedented flexibility maximises interior space, offering multiple seating and load-carrying configurations. It can support a wide range of new products — from passenger carrying models, to commercial vehicles, offering significant advances in range, efficiency, safety, charging time, durability and connectivity.

Building on LEVC’s rapid growth, SOA marks a step-change in the expansion of its product line-up — and will cement LEVC as a provider of advanced mobility solutions across the world. Sustainability lies at the heart of all of LEVC's products, while offering drivers, passengers and fleet operators purpose-built, sector-leading EVs.

Zero-emission transport solutions
As the world transitions to pure EVs, there is rapid demand for new, mission-specific, zero-emission transport solutions that are at home in the city and beyond, across multiple sectors. With the interior experience more important than ever, the SOA platform will enable LEVC to meet — and exceed — the needs of global mobility customers, who have ever higher expectations for onboard comfort, cargo-carrying capability and accessibility.

With a centrally-located battery, SOA delivers a fully flat floor, maximising space for occupants, cargo, or both. To this truly flat floor, SOA optimises the packaging of electric powertrain components at the front, freeing up additional space for the driver and passenger. At the rear, SOA uses an innovative rear suspension design that incorporates extra carrying capacity underneath the main luggage area, behind the rear axle.

Setting new standards for access, with low step-in heights, SOA also raises the bar for interior flexibility, with multiple seating configurations and almost endless possibilites. Through innovative design, the platform maximises interior space to such an extent that an extra row of seats can fit into the vehicle, compared to other vehicles in the same class. Multiple configurations are then enabled by a fully flexible seat arrangement, with a sliding track that runs from the front to the rear of the architecture.

Supporting vehicle sizes from 4,860-5,995mm in length and 1,945-1,998mm in width, with wheelbases from 3,000-3,800mm, SOA is configurable for a wide range of EVs, from spacious passenger-carrying models to cargo-optimised commercial applications. SOA can also offer front-wheel-drive, rear-wheel-drive and all-wheel-drive layouts too. Equipped with a wide choice of market-leading batteries from 73kWh to 120kWh, SOA has been designed to suit the individual needs of a customer. By combining space with long ranges — of up to 695km — and ultra-fast charging, SOA maximises convenience, with minimal downtime.

SOA not only maximises passenger space, but its optimisation of front end packaging also delivers high performance crash structure and energy absorption, achieving five-star safety standards in Europe, and China. The platform also features a high-performance suspension design and high torsional stiffness for handling, comfort and refinement too. As well as featuring a groundbreaking physical architecture, SOA also incorporates the very latest in standard-setting digital platform technology: L-OS. A new electronic architecture from chip to cloud, L-OS has been exclusively built for the future mobility space. With huge computing power, L-OS provides users with the ultimate experience, from autonomous capability to intelligent cockpits, forming a complete digital operating system.

Autonomous-capable
L-OS technology means SOA-based vehicles are autonomous-capable, from Level 2 up to Level 4, bringing new levels of driver assistance to the market. L-OS also incorporates the latest in enhanced occupant experience through experts ECARX, using its advanced Antora intelligent computing platform to deliver the ultimate in intelligent, digital cockpits with high feature content and functionality. Over-the-air (OTA) software updates allow SOA-based vehicles to always stay up-to-date, enhancing the user experience and constantly improving usability and efficiency.

SOA is also an open-source EV platform, available for partners outside of LEVC and Geely Holding Group to use as the basis for their future products. Synergies generated by the architecture are expected to reduce development costs at participating brands and to generate substantial savings on R&D costs.

Alex Nan, CEO of LEVC, said: “SOA optimises onboard space offering multiple configurations and endless possibilities, a new advanced EV platform which supports LEVC’s new strategy to become a leading zero-carbon mobility provider. Combined with our groundbreaking L-OS digital architecture, it will bring our new mission to life, delivering smart, green, safe and accessible mobility to all, enabling us to transform from a high-end taxi manufacturer, launching LEVC into new sectors, with an extended range of ‘state of the art’ pure EVs.

“Building on LEVC’s unrivalled heritage in producing the iconic London black cab, we are adapting our business to meet the rapidly accelerating demand for spacious, flexible EVs. Our rich history is combined with the resources of the Geely organisation to set our brand on an exciting new path. With the combined strength of our new strategy and SOA, we will bring advanced zero-emission transportation to more customers than ever before.”