British electric vehicle manufacturer Tevva has received European Community whole vehicle type approval (ECWTVA) for its 7.5-tonne battery-electric truck, meaning it can start production and retail of the lorry.
Approval represents a key regulatory step in the development and commercialisation of electric vehicles, with Tevva becoming the first UK company to get the green light from the EC for such a vehicle.
The first mass produced electric trucks have started to be delivered from Tevva's UK base to customers including Expect Distribution, Travis Perkins and Royal Mail, and the company expects to sell up to 1,000 electric trucks in 2023.
Asher Bennett, founder and CEO of Tevva, described type approval as the "most important landmark" achieved by the company to date. Founded a decade ago, Tevva manufactures vehicles at its Essex facility.
“We are on a mission to make sustainable trucks accessible at scale and believe our technology will empower the transport sector and the governments of Europe to meet their net-zero goals," Bennett continued.
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"By embracing both hydrogen and electric fuel sources, we can rethink the energy mix in transport, reduce strain on our electricity grid and accelerate electric truck adoption.”
The essential certification has been achieved for the EU and UK with the Vehicle Certification Agency (VCA) and the Swedish Transport Agency (STA).
To receive whole vehicle type approval, the Tevva electric truck underwent 30 system tests, including electric safety and electromagnetic compatibility to the latest standards.
Tevva’s 7.5t electric truck offers up to 227km from its 105 kWh battery on a single charge, and the company is targeting urban delivery fleets.
It will be followed later in 2023 by a 7.5t hydrogen-electric truck, which benefits from a hydrogen range-extender that enhances vehicle range to up to 570km. Tevva faces competitions for giants such as Daimler and Tesla in the electric lorry market.
Photo: Asher Bennett. (Pic: Tevva)
