Switch IeV Series: Electric mini-trucks made from the ground up | Auto Expo 2023

by Dhiyanesh Ravichandran · Published January 19, 2023 · Updated January 19, 2023

Switch IeV Series of electric mini-trucks is the electric commercial vehicle brand’s latest weapon to usher in zero-emission electric mobility in mid-mile and last-mile commercial transportation in India and export markets.

Electric Ashok Leyland Dost Bada Dost India — *Switch IeV series assures lower TCO as against conventional delivery vehicles in its segment.*

Switch Mobility unveiled its all-new ‘IeV Series’ of electric light commercial vehicles at the Auto Expo 2023 Motor Show, Greater Noida last week. Two products from the series was displayed at the show – a 2.62 tonne GVW truck and a 3.5 tonne GVW truck – equipped with next-gen, “tech-enabled intelligence”.

The company claims that these vehicles are developed from the grounds up, with performance, connectivity, and cabin comfort in mind. The IeV series assures to significantly reduce the total cost of ownership as against conventional delivery vehicles in the segment, Switch adds.

Stating the obvious, the Switch IeV e-trucks don the cabin shell of Ashok Leyland Dost and Bada Dost models. However, there seems to be hardly anything more common, not even axle and suspension aggregates.

Ashok Leyland’s Electric and Hydrogen vehicles at Auto Expo 2023, from our WagenClub + channel.

Visually, the LED DRLs in headlights and backlit logo in both the models elevate the Switch e-trucks. On the inside, all-digital instrumentation and a 2-din infotainment systems, along with body-color inserts on the dashboard, defines the tech-savviness of the electric vehicles.

The IeV 2.62 tonne GVW model (with 250 cu ft loading bay) is equipped with a 40 kW motor with a top speed of 70 kmph, while the 3.5 tonne truck with 335 cu ft load bay gets a powerful 50 kW motors reaching a top speed of 80 kmph. Both the trucks claim a driving range of around 150 kms in full charge and a restart gradeability of 22 percent.

Switch Mobility has neither revealed the battery capacity nor the cell chemistry of the battery pack. To make the products competitive, the company may have gone for LFP batteries in the IeV range, as the stated driving range is just 150 kms.

Once introduced in India, the Switch IeV mini trucks will take on the newly launched Tata Ace EV in the electric last-mile delivery applications.