Watt Electric Vehicle Company (WEVC), a UK-based company which is primarily involved in the design, engineering and manufacture of low-to-medium volume EVs, has launched a lightweight modular EV architecture to manufacture several low to medium volume vehicle designs like sports coupes, off-road buggies, and rideshare vehicles. The new architecture allows low-volume manufacturers to make the zero-emission transition swiftly and cost-effectively.
The platform, an advanced ‘off-the-shelf’ EV solution, qualifies for the latest safety standards. Following this announcement, the focus has been shifted towards a successful launch of WEVC’s UK-designed electric light commercial vehicle, the eCV1, which has grabbed a significant amount of interest from major companies for fleet integration.
The main focus of this new passenger vehicle platform is on WEVC’s Passenger and Commercial EV Skateboard (PACES) architecture. PACES is a bonded aluminium platform designed specifically for low-volume production, offering flexibility, scalability, lightweight construction, and cost-effectiveness. It can be conditioned to various EV configurations per the customers’ needs, from sports coupes to off-road buggies, supporting front-wheel, rear-wheel, and all-wheel drive layouts. The platform qualifies for ISO regulations and European Small Series Type Approval crash standards.
While addressing the press Neil Yates, CEO of WEVC stated that Electrification is a major challenge for small series manufacturers. With low sales volumes, it has become difficult for these businesses to invest in new EV technology and develop it in-house. WEVC’s PACES architecture provides a sophisticated, lightweight off-the-shelf platform that is cost-effective and qualifies for ISO and European Small Series Type Approval crash standards.
Yates emphasized that the platform’s design for low-volume manufacturing provides an ideal structural and dynamic base for various high-performance EVs. He added that there is currently a surge in global customer demand for launching customized electric passenger vehicles. Their exclusive platform enables brands to swiftly and affordably transition to EVs featuring a tailored technology optimized to meet their specific requirements.