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With major overhauls coming to the automotive sector many reiterate that everything is changing. However, the EVs that attract the most attention are expensive and out of reach for many. Take for example the Tesla Model S Plaid and the Porsche Taycan, as most will never be able to afford these. Instead, the average consumer will settle for something a little more average. Premium products are out of reach for small and medium-level enterprises. This is where German manufacturer ElectricBrands steps in. According to ElectricBrands, the XBUS is, "made in Germany with love", offering a range of small utility vehicles. These come with different modules, essentially body types ranging from bus, pickup, tipper to their latest addition the camper. Those that are environmentally conscious and looking to reduce their business' carbon footprint are short of options when it comes to 2022 electric pickup trucks but the XBUS is an excellent option.
The XBUS is coming to change vans near you.
What Is The XBUS?
The manufacturer claims that the XBUS is a modular small electric utility vehicle. With two chassis variants and modular components, there are near-infinite combinations of the vehicle to support almost any business. Development has pioneered a number of different methods for creating a community around the product, including crowd investing. ElectricBrands vehicle is highly successful with 15,311 of the vehicle pre-ordered at the time of writing.
The XBUS offers plenty of technology in its small frame. With four-wheel drive and over 1000 Nm of torque, the XBUS is capable of getting anywhere and to most places. As ever with electric vehicles range anxiety is a concern. However, the XBUS does relatively well with that. Powered by 24 removable batteries that each provide 1.25 kWh. The manufacturer claims that per Kwh the XBUS can cover 20 kilometers. After a small bit of math, this gives the XBUS a range of 372 miles, enough to rival premium conventional EVs like the Kia EV6. With removable batteries, the potential range increases even further.
With this in mind, XBUS announced a new model in the lineup. This third model is the XBUS Camper. This prototype is similar to the XBUS 2, only with the addition of a raised rough is more hospitable as a space to stand and live in, albeit for only a few days.
When Is The XBUS Launching?
According to ElectricBrands, the XBUS will launch this year. The website interviewed the manufacturer's CEO. They quote him as saying "Three years ago, we set out to change mobility for the long term. We will not give up on that, even in the pandemic. We are using the time to make further improvements in the development and production of the XBUS".
The semi-conductor shortage has caused brands like Audi, BMW, and Tesla to fall behind their production goals simply because the supplies weren't there. The same has happened in other sectors such as the computer industry. Investing this time in further developing their product can only result in positives for the company as they expand their range and crash test their products.
Starting at $23,000 the base model is incredibly appealing as an entry point into electric-powered commercial transport. Selling for around $2000 more are the off-road and bus variants of the vehicle. Initially, the brand will only sell the XBUS in Europe but with such strong sales potentially it could end up Stateside. This newest Camper module vehicle sells for the equivalent to $39,500, making it by far the most expensive of the XBUS models.