NAA Event Review: Electra Commercial Vehicles
Our most recent networking event in January saw us visit Brighouse-based NAA member Electra Commercial Vehicles, where we were hosted by Ben Smith – Managing Director, Andrew Holliday – Head of Commercial / Sales Operations and Nick Pemberton – Sales Director.
Founded in 2017, Electra creates fully electric and hydrogen powered commercial vehicles for a global market and a cleaner future – all based on OEM glider chassis from Daimler, IVECO, Isuzu and Dennis Eagle.
All of the company’s vehicles are small series type approved and are either 100% Electric (BEV) or Hydrogen Fuel Cell Electric (FCEV) commercial vehicles, operating in 7.5 – 42 tonne weight range, providing the ultimate clean vehicle technology combined with a body to the customer’s exact specification, and supported by a high-quality maintenance package.
Delegates were given an overview of the company’s history, from founding in 2017 and the build of its first vehicle based on a Daimler chassis, through gaining small series Type Approval in 2020 to the 2023 launch of the modular design Generation 3 Electra range and subsequent re-location from Blackburn to its current 64,000 sq ft facility in Brighouse.
An overview of the current Electra product range and the various technical specifications followed and included:
Isuzu-based Deliver-E chassis for 7.5 – 8.9 tonnes
IVECO-based eCargo chassis for 12.5 – 19 tonnes
Daimler-based eStar chassis for 19 – 32 tonnes
Dennis Eagle-based eCompact chassis for 19 – 27 tonnes
Daimler-based eRox chassis for 19 – 32 tonnes
A number of ground-breaking collaborations were also highlighted, including with Air bp to develop revolutionary electric air refuelling vehicles and with Sainsbury’s to trial the UK’s first zero-emission hydrogen fuel cell electric refrigerated vehicle, a 19-tonne truck capable of achieving over 500km range with 9-10 hours of operation and quick on-site refuelling that is ideal for double shifts.
Electra’s net-zero strategy was also outlined, whereby they repurpose vehicle batteries for second-life energy storage, aligning with the renewable energy sector’s need for durable battery systems.
Finally, delegates were given a tour of the engineering and manufacturing facility, which has the capacity to build up to 1,000 trucks a year and features:
• 5 R&D bays
• 21 production bays
• 4 service bays
• 4 Electra Exchange repower bays
During the tour, delegates were also able to view a wide range of products in various stages of completion.
