Iveco has presented a prototype of the Electric Daily in Brazil – what it says is the first zero-emission light commercial vehicle produced in Latin America.
The project is born from the collaboration between Iveco and Itaipu Binacional, the business that manages the largest hydroelectric generating station in the world on the border between Brazil and Paraguay. With this prototype, the objective is to carry out suitability testing for the utilization of electrical energy for the transportation of goods and passengers.
The prototype, based on a double cab Daily 55C, is equipped with three Zebra Z5 sodium, nickel and chloride batteries -- sealed and not producing gaseous emissions, maintenance-free and are totally recyclable. Provided with an energy-recovery system, similar to the Kers (Kinetic Energy Recovery System) used in Formula 1 racing so able to recharge its batteries under braking conditions, the vehicle has a range of 62 miles and reaches a fully laden top speed of 43 mph.
At the conclusion of the test, the Daily Electric, whose technology is applicable to all versions of the vehicle produced in Latin America, the vehicle will be produced by Iveco using the production facility sited inside the large power station where the Fiat Palio Electric is already in production, based on the partnership initiated in 2006 between Fiat Automoveis and Itaipu Binacional for the production of the first pure electric traction automobile in Brazil.
The first 10 Electric Daily units produced in the production centre of Foz do Iguaçu will be destined for Itaipu Binacional and its associated companies. A second prototype based on a different configuration of the Daily is already programmed for production by Iveco and Itaipu Binacional for the beginning of 2010.