It appears that Bob Lutz and VIA Motors aren’t the only people who had the idea of converting General Motor’s trucks and vans into hybrid EVs. Echo Automotive, a company which injects commercial trucks and vans with a bit of hybrid capability, has announced it will begin to divert its attention to the Chevrolet Express and GMC Savana vans.
Currently, the majority of Echo’s work is focused on the Ford E-series vans and F-series pickup trucks. But Echo will now expand its model range by adding its 30 kW electric motor and advanced battery system to GMs line of full-size vans.
“The addition of support for the Chevrolet Express platform is a natural expansion for EchoDrive from both a technical and a market perspective, and one that allows more fleets to benefit more fully from our EchoDrive plug-in hybrid system,” Dan Kennedy, CEO of Echo Automotive said in a statement. “We look forward to demonstrating the impact EchoDrive delivers to fleet managers in reducing operating costs, delivering greater fuel efficiency and promoting sustainability across both the Ford and GM platforms.”
According to InsideEVs, production of the PHEV Chevrolet Express and GMC Savanna will begin in the first quarter of 2015.
Comments
This is a great idea! Is this a similar system that was in the full size trucks and suvs?
This is good news. We need more electric vans and trucks. More is better, more competition will improve prices and availability, and save money.
How about they make these vans more reliable, first.