LEVC XE08 NEW UPDATE 12-June

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The LEVC (London Electric Vehicle Company) XE08 was spied in China during road tests. It is an MPV that will become a potential rival to the Ford Transit or Mercedes-Benz Vito. It stands on the SOA architecture that stays really close to the Geely’s SEA platform. Let’s get to know the XE08 better.

First, we will detail the LEVC Company. LEVC is an abbreviation for London Electric Vehicle Company, previously known as the London Taxi Corporation Limited. It was initially founded in 1919. And, in 2012, Geely purchased certain assets of this company, creating the LEVC we know today. Nowadays, LEVC cabs are manufactured in China. Speaking about the model line of this brand, it comprises LEVC TX cab in EREV (range-extender) and EV versions. It is available in different modifications, including the VN5 electric delivery van. Soon, the LEVC model line will get a new MPV with a codename XE08. It stands on the brand-new platform.

Before we get to the LEVC XE08, we should detail its platform. It is called SOA (Space Oriented Architecture). Basically, it has a lot in common with the Geely’s SEA platform that underpins lots of passenger vehicles, including Polestar 3, Volvo EX90, etc. The benefit of the SOA platform is a flat floor that increases the space inside the cabin. This architecture is also quite flexible, so it allows to customize the interior by adding an extra row of seats or creating different configurations.

Speaking about specs of the SOA platform, it can carry 73 – 120 kWh batteries on board. It is also capable of the Level 2-4 autonomous driving. Its front suspension is McPherson, while the rear one can be represented by multi-link suspension or with a leaf spring. The length of the vehicle based on the SOA platform can reach 6 meters. As for the first car that will be based on the SOA, it is the recently spied XE08.

As we can see in spy shots, the LEVC XE08 is a relatively large MPV with a huge ground clearance and a long rear overhang. On the other hand, it has a really short front end with a sloped bonnet line and slanted windshield. As a result, it is easy to confuse the XE08 with the Li Auto W01 MPV. The test vehicle is covered with camouflage, but we can still underline some features of its exterior.



Let’s start with the front end of the LEVC XE08. It has a single taillight unit that sits right under the bonnet. As for the headlights, they are integrated into the front bumper. The A-pillars of the XE08 look thin for the vehicle of this size, while its side view mirrors, in contrast, look too big and blocky. The B and C pillars of the XE08 are hidden, creating a nice appearance with a floating roof. From the back, we can see that the XE08 has horizontally oriented taillights that are typical for the vast majority of MPVs. Worth mentioning that the back of this MPV is totally flat. We don’t know the exact dimensions of the XE08, but it is a huge car for sure, with a length of over five meters. It looks like it can debut later this year.

carnewschina.com/2023/06/07/levc-xe08-spotted-in-china-during-road-tests-new-vehicle-for-the-london-taxi-fleet/

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'It's the end of the road for our troublesome all-electric cars'
Story by Elizabeth Anderson For The Daily Mail • Saturday

Owners say vehicles are unable to travel distances promised by manufacturers
Others report problems including battery issues and software glitches
Public charging infrastructure is woefully inadequate to cope with demand
We're all being encouraged to switch to electric cars for obvious reasons: they are kinder to the environment than petrol or diesel models as they do not release CO2 – a key contributor to global warming.

And figures show an increase in uptake ahead of the Government's plan to ban the sale of new petrol and diesel cars by 2030. Personal use of electric cars is far outweighed by business use, thanks to generous tax breaks.

Around 20,500 electric cars were registered in the year to April 2023, up 59 per cent from the 12,899 the previous year and these account for 15 per cent of total market share, according to data from industry body the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT).

There are a variety of apps that people can use to find chargers close to you, but these are not necessarily up to date,' she says.

'Places like Ikea and Aldi are rolling out charging stations but they are generally quite busy so you have to choose your time wisely.

'The best place for me to charge my car was at the local McDonald's. It took two and a half hours for a full charge. I would park up, read a book and sit in the car as it charged.

'I was once issued a parking ticket for staying too long!' Roz, 49, now drives a Mini Countryman plug-in hybrid for personal use such as doing shopping trips or visiting friends.

She charges the car in her garage through a standard three-prong plug and fills up with petrol every five weeks.

She says she would not recommend an electric car to anyone without off-street parking, and who, instead, would have to rely on public chargers.

'I hope that by the time I buy my next car, the charging infrastructure will have improved but there is still a way to go,' she adds.

Despite often costing more upfront than petrol or diesel cars, running costs for electric cars are lower. A full charge that gives a typical driving range of 200 miles would cost around £8-£12 at home, according to the Energy Saving Trust.

This compares to £26-£32 for petrol or diesel, although the electricity costs can escalate if you use public charging points.

Rapid charging points at motorway service stations typically cost £22 for a 30-minute, 90-mile charge, says charging firm Pod Point.

Electric cars are also exempt from the £165-a-year road tax on petrol and dieswel cars, although this will end in April 2025. Meanwhile, they are exempt from congestion charges in cities including London and Birmingham, although they will pay the charge in London from 2025.

There are also tax advantages for business owners and employees who use company cars. Business owners who lease an electric car can deduct the full monthly payments from their turnover, meaning a lower corporation tax bill.

They can also claim back 50 per cent of the VAT, or 100 per cent if the car is not used in any personal capacity.

For employees and directors who use a company car for journeys beyond work, the benefit-in-kind tax rate is just two per cent compared to a typical starting rate of 25 per cent for fossil fuel-powered cars.

Two thirds of electric vehicles were bought by business customers in 2022, says the SMMT.

Betsy Benn, who runs a business selling personalised gifts in Cheltenham, started leasing a Jaguar iPace three years ago because of the tax and environmental benefits, as well as economical running costs.

Betsy, 48, uses the car mostly for personal trips and for occasional trips to London to visit suppliers.

She boosts the car's battery overnight, as her energy provider charges less for off-peak electricity use, with the costs working out at about 2.8p per mile. She says there are many attractive qualities to an electric car, but overall she has been disappointed by the iPace.

Betsy does not trust her Jag's promised 282-mile range as she says this quickly drops if factoring in air-conditioning, heating the car or sitting in slow traffic which all drain the battery. For long distances, Betsy says she's more likely to travel by train or hire a petrol car.

'The charging network isn't there – even if you find a charging station there's often one out of order. You then have to wait 20 minutes until someone has finished charging.

www.msn.com/en-gb/cars/news/it-s-the-end-of-the-road-for-our-troublesome-all-electric-cars/ar-AA1cnHmD?ocid=msedgdhp&pc=U531&cvid=4f0ae22ae6fe42089566c43d524ebd1c&ei=15