Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles introduced its e-Crafter electric van concept at this year’s IAA Commercial Vehicles show in Hanover, Germany. However, this is not just another concept. Dr. Eckhard Scholz, Chairman of the Board of Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles, has said that the first e-Crafters will be in customers’ hands by 2017.

The concept vehicle is equipped with a 100 kW, 290 N·m motor, powered by a 312-cell 43 kWh Li-ion battery pack. It has a permitted total weight of 4.2 tons, and maximum permitted speed of 50 mph.

The battery pack is fitted under the cargo space floor, so cargo capacity (11.3 cubic meters) is unchanged from the legacy ICE Crafter.

Depending on vehicle configuration, the battery pack enables a range of over 124 miles. VW says the e-Crafter is designed to accommodate future battery developments, so ranges of up to 249 miles will eventually be possible.

Source: Volkswagen via Green Car Congress