REE Automotive, an automotive technology company that makes modular transportation, has released the P7-B: a new Class 3 box truck designed and built by REE to target the most popular vehicle type in the commercial segment. The truck is powered by the company’s proprietary REEcorner technology and is mounted on REE Automotive’s P7 cab chassis.
About REE Automotive
In addition to its headquarters in Herzliya, Israel, REE Automotive has offices in the United Kingdom and Germany. In 2020, REE unveiled three ultra-modular, next-generation EV chassis prototypes. In the summer of 2021, REE announced plans to establish a new headquarters in Austin, Texas.
The company is known for its REEcorner technology, which combines all of the standard drive components (powertrain, suspension, control, steering, and braking) into the wheel’s arch. It also creates and manufactures modular EV platforms for B2B transactions.
The Proxima Van
As part of a joint project with JB Poindexter subsidiaries Morgan Olson and EAVX, REE Automotive teased a walk-in electric van last May. This would eventually become the Proxima electric van “powered by REE.” The van body, which REE’s P7 modular chassis is built upon, was created by Morgan Olson and EAVX and debuted in early 2022.
Following client demos with the Proxima collaboration, REE unveiled the P7-B box truck, a second commercial EV that it self-designed and manufactured.
REE’s P7-B Box Truck
As part of a new fleet of commercial electric vehicles, REE Automotive provided details about its new P7-B box truck. Prospective customers can analyze and test these to get a feel for their performance and design, which includes REE’s revolutionary REEcorner x-by-wire technology.
The x-by-wire architecture includes standard features such as all-wheel steering, all-wheel drive, adaptive regenerative braking, creep control, hill start assist, and torque vectoring. It also allows for over-the-air updates.
After the Proxima van mentioned above, this electric truck is the second commercial EV to debut on the P7 chassis, although it is the first to be fully designed by REE. Although the business emphasizes that its current primary focus is on designing and producing REEcorners and chassis, it claims that it developed the box truck based on market demand and feedback from potential clients.
Providing a custom electric vehicle expands REE Automotive’s electrified commercial portfolio, even if it isn’t the main focus of its current business plan.
In contrast to the Proxima Van’s bare chassis, the P7-B box truck uses REE’s cab chassis. Although a UK subtractor constructs the actual box, buyers interested in acquiring the complete Class 3 vehicle can do so exclusively through REE.
The P7 box truck configuration aims for a top speed of 75 mph (120 km/h), a range of 150 miles (241 km), a payload capacity of 4,400 lbs (2,000 kg), and a gross vehicle weight rating (GVWR) of 14,000 lbs (6,350 kg) while providing ample interior space for passengers and cargo and a convenient, low step-in height.
Tali Miller, REE’s chief business officer, discussed the new box truck’s potential in an ever-growing market:
“The on-track testing of this new EV truck and extensive customer evaluations is another crucial step on the road to commercialization and deployment of test fleets, followed by scale adaptation in fleets. Feedback from our customers has been that this is the truck they have been waiting for – a driver-centric work truck that drives like a small car but is built to deliver under the harshest commercial duty cycle.
Our modular P7 chassis allows us to design vehicles tailored to our customers’ needs. We are excited to be showing them what our unique technology affords their fleets as we support them on their path toward electrification and carbon neutrality.”
Here are a few features of the REE P7-B box truck that potential fleet customers can expect to see:
- Cargo Volume: 812 ft³ / 23 m³
- Payload Capacity: 4,400 lbs. / 2,000 kg
- Min. Load Floor Height: 23 in / 58 cm
- Maximum Speed: 75 mph / 120 km/h
- Peak Motor Power: 400V
- Peak Torque: 545 Nm
- Turning Radius: 19 ft / 6.0 m
- Range: 150 miles
Following the aforementioned positive customer evaluations, REE is still on track to start manufacturing P7 chassis this year. The platform will support both commercial EVs that have already been revealed and is anticipated to be developed at REE’s North American integration facility in Texas and its European integration center in the UK.
