David Wilkins

A few days ago, I posted a van that had been converted into a black London taxi cab - the Mercedes Vito. This vehicle has undergone the opposite transformation. The VN5 is a van from the Geely-owned LEVC, based on the same company’s TX London taxi cab, although the rear bodywork is more boxy. It uses the range-extender electrified powertrain found in the taxi too. Spotted at my local leisure complex car park.

#davidsdailycar #LEVC #WeirdCarMastodon

Oct 4 at 7:12amWeb
Show threadRachel LawsonOct 4
@davidwilkins it seems we were both intrigued by the same van
Show threadDavid WilkinsOct 4

@rachel Yes - absolutely fascinating. Also seems to be a heavy depreciator - this scarcely used one is only a third or a quarter of the original list price. Going back to another of my posts a few days ago, could make a good base for an eco friendly mini stealth camper…

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/van-details/202508265765103

Show threadRachel LawsonOct 4
@davidwilkins indeed. I imagine many people’s reaction to such low mileage on an “unknown” vehicle is it spends a lot of time in the garage.
But camper was my thinking when I first saw it.
Show threadPaddyTech 👾Oct 4
@davidwilkins @rachel the description in that says petrol hybrid? From your post I assumed pure electric??
Show threadDavid WilkinsOct 4
@PaddyTech @rachel I don’t think hybrid is necessarily wrong but it’s normally classified as an EV with a range extender as (simplifying somewhat) the petrol engine is only used to generate electricity, not drive the wheels directly.
Show threadPaddyTech 👾Oct 4
@davidwilkins @rachel ah I see. Interesting. Fairly rare setup, I know BMW offered it in the i3, hard pushed to think of other examples
Show threadDavid WilkinsOct 4

@PaddyTech @rachel There’s also the REx version of the MX-30 which uses a rotary engine but Maxda has taken to just calling it a hybrid anyway - presumably that’s an easier sell!

https://www.mazda.co.uk/cars/mazda-mx-30-r-ev/

Mazda MX-30 R-EV SUV | Mazda UK

Discover the Mazda MX-30 R-EV, Plug-in Hybrid car.

Show threadPaddyTech 👾Oct 4
@davidwilkins @rachel God bless Mazda, but that just feels like a “throw everything at it” solution. Rotary engine (those bastions of simplicity), something to turn the petrol engine output into electricity, big battery, electric motor(s?) and drivetrain. Won’t mind driving one, but owning one- you’re grand.