The London Electric Vehicle Company (LEVC) – the manufacturer formerly known as the London Taxi Company and which makes electrified variants of London’s famous black cabs – has launched a new pure-electric vehicle platform.

Now part of China’s Geely – of which Volvo, Polestar, and Lotus are also a part – LEVC’s new EV platform is called Space Oriented Architecture (SOA). Co-developed with Geely, the SOA platform can, the company says, support a wide range of new products.

Supporting vehicle sizes from 4,860mm-5995mm in length and 1945mm-1998mm in width, with wheelbases from 3000mm-3800mm, SOA is configurable for a wide range of EVs, from passenger-carrying models to commercial applications. SOA can also offer front-wheel-drive, rear-wheel-drive and all-wheel-drive layouts.

Designed with interior space in mind, the platform has a centrally located battery, and electric powertrain components are packaged at the front, freeing up additional space for the driver and passenger. Multiple seating configurations are possible.

LEVC says the SOA platform comes equipped with a choice of batteries from 73kWh to 120kWh, offers ultra-fast charging and can deliver up to 695km of range.

It also incorporates a digital platform technology called L-OS. This system, LEVC says, means SOA-based vehicles will be autonomous-capable, up to Level 4, and offer cutting-edge digital cockpits. Over-the-air (OTA) software updates will allow SOA-based vehicles to stay up to date with the latest functions and features.

SOA is also an open-source electric vehicle platform, available for partners outside of LEVC and Geely Holding Group to use as the basis for their future products.
LEVC says the new platform underpins its strategy to offer a range of EV products and become a leading mobility solution provider.

Source: Motor Trader e-Magazine (May 2023)

29 May 2023