The Morris JE incorporates a state-of-the-art, full electric, lithium-ion battery powertrain and a lightweight modular chassis, designed to make it suitable for future derivatives. The combination of the chassis with a complete carbon fibre body makes the vehicle one of the lightest LCVs in the market and delivers an impressive power-to-weight efficiency which maximises the range of the vehicle.
The original Morris J-type has long been referred to as the ultimate, iconic British van. It was first introduced in 1948 at Earls Court, London and was used extensively for promotional and advertising purposes thanks to its distinctive styling, which the present vehicle will seek to emulate. The J-type was often seen resplendent in distinctive colour schemes and company liveries and was exported around the world to over 22 countries, generating international recognition. Many of these vehicles are still used as ice cream vans and for food retailing and are also used in film and advertising campaigns.
The current start up has secured the rights to the Morris Commercial brand name and now seeks to revive this iconic brand with a series of all-electric vehicles, beginning with the new Morris JE. The project has been led by a highly experienced team of automotive designers and engineers, resulting in a fully operational engineering prototype.
The new vehicle is not a replica of a 70-year-old design, but it reflects the organisational culture and values of the original design. The aim is to make the vehicle hugely appealing to large and small businesses who are concerned about the environment but also seek a distinctive vehicle that can provide fantastic promotional opportunities with real-world commercial capabilities.
“I am so pleased to reach this stage after over two years of intense development” said Dr. Qu Li, the CEO and founder of Morris Commercial. “It’s been a fantastic journey and I am extremely proud of what the whole Morris Commercial team and its incredible suppliers have achieved. The working engineering prototype has undergone extensive road testing and the end of 2019 is an amazing conclusion to the first phase of the project. We still have a little way to go to bring the project to full production, but we have the team and the product to make this an enormous success. As a business we are committed to environmental sustainability and we are trailblazing a new approach to the production of appealing, fully electric commercial vehicles. We are very excited to unveil the JE to the public this autumn”.
Morris Commercial will be making further announcements in due course and will be revealing the prototype this autumn.
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