ADVENTUROUS FAMILIES CAN GO ELECTRIC

GROWING families with a sense of adventure or a need for space take note: Maxus has launched all-electric vehicles for business and pleasure.

The Maxus MIFA 9 is a seven-seat high-spec MPV with a range of up to 323 miles, sliding doors and armchair-style central seats.

The firm’s five-seat T90EV electric pick-up truck has off-road capability, a big cargo area and a range of 198 miles.

Both are expected to be priced from around £40,000 plus VAT, pushing the cost for private non-business users up to around £48,000.

The beauty for those who run small and medium-sized businesses is that they get the tax-free fiscal advantage as well as the family fun. The vehicles made their debuts at the Commercial Vehicle Show at Birmingham’s NEC, where, along with Ford, Isuzu, Toyota and Ineos Grenadier, Maxus had one of the biggest presences.

Maxus is the commercial vehicle arm of Chinese car-maker SAIC, with its roots in Birmingham van maker LDV. Mark Barrett, of the Harris Group, which imports the vehicles into the UK and Ireland, says: ‘The growth and interest in EV vans, particularly from the grocery, delivery and pharmaceutical sectors, is phenomenal.’ But manufacturers warn that a lack of public charging points could stifle the switch to battery power and scupper clean air targets. Mike Hawes, chief executive of the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders, says the Government needed a ‘van plan’ to accelerate take-up, adding: ‘Britain’s businesses run on vans and if we’re to deliver carbon emissions cuts, we need them to move to electric.’