Geely's electric taxi division introduces a brand-new EV platform for a more flexible future of mobility
CY Foong · May 10, 2023 11:20 AM
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The London Electric Vehicle Company (LEVC), one of the many brands under Geely Holding Group is known for producing the famous black cabs that are transportation icons for the British capital like red double-decker buses and the Tube. However, LEVC is expanding beyond just the iconic Hackney carriage as it launched a new pure electric vehicle (EV) technology platform.
The Space Oriented Architecture (SOA) is a modular and scalable platform, developed in R&D centres in China, Sweden, the UK, and Germany over the past 2.5 years.
The SOA is designed to maximise interior space, offers multiple seating and load-carrying configurations as well as being configurable for a wide range of EVs, from passenger-carrying models to cargo-optimised commercial applications.
The new platform sets new standards for onboard space, with a centrally-located battery (73 kWh – 120 kWh), a fully flat floor, and maximising interior space for both occupants and cargo.
It also sets new standards for access, with low step-in heights, and raises the bar for interior flexibility, with multiple seating configurations and almost endless possibilities. The platform is configurable for a wide range of EVs, from spacious passenger-carrying models to cargo-optimised commercial applications and can be offered in FWD, RWD, and AWD layouts.
Besides, the platform is also optimised for safety and delivers high-performance crash structure and energy absorption as well as achieving five-star safety standards in Europe and China. SOA features a high-performance suspension design and high torsional stiffness for handling, comfort and refinement too.
It also incorporates the latest digital platform technology: L-OS, which means SOA-based vehicles are autonomous-capable, from Level 2 up to Level 4, bringing new levels of driver assistance to the market.
Besides taxis, LEVC also currently makes electric vans like the VN5
SOA is an open-source electric vehicle platform, available for partners outside of LEVC and Geely Holding Group to use as the basis for their own vehicles. It represents a new chapter in LEVC's history, providing the foundation for its transformation from a high-end taxi manufacturer to a leading provider of e-mobility solutions.
Traded advertising for a career that fits his passion for cars. Enjoys spotting cars during his free time and has a soft spot for Japanese Kei cars but drives a thirsty manual sedan.
