Ukrainian Luaz is the most affordable electric pickup truck with minimal operating costs
Luaz Motors, the Ukrainian manufacturer of Luaz electric cars. There are many controversial issues about the production of electric pickup trucks: whether 100% local production is needed, which components can be manufactured in Ukraine and which are more profitable to import, and whether electric vehicles are more profitable to use than gasoline-powered cars.
Currently, the company has three electric vehicles in its lineup: City, Farmer, and Cargo. The latter two have been certified according to the European light vehicle standard and can be used on the road. However, this standard has a condition that the truck cannot be a four-seater. And that a four-seater passenger car cannot have a cargo compartment and be heavier than 450 kg.
Luaz, the cheapest vehicle in terms of cost of use. This includes the cost of the machine, electricity consumption (6.5 kW/100 km), size, and repairs. That’s why, for example, they made a small engine that doesn’t allow you to drive fast. The manufacturer limited the speed to 50 km/h.
The company imports the frame, body and chassis. This also applies to the dashboard elements. The glass is Chinese, but they already have contact with a domestic manufacturer. The battery, charging inverter, and wiring are manufactured in Ukraine.
“If we look at components, the degree of localization is 50%, and the cost is about 70%, because the main cost is the battery and electronics,” says the manufacturer.
The main idea is not to make a fully Ukrainian electric car, but to provide the Ukrainian economy with an affordable tool for doing business. If some components are cheaper to import, the manufacturer does so. If it is cheaper to produce at home, then they produce locally.
The company compared Luaz Cargo with Citroen Nemo – an electric car and a small diesel car. The difference in fuel costs is UAH 300-400 per day for delivery alone. After 3 years, the machine is completely repaired. You also need to fill up on fuel, maintenance, and new parts, which are more expensive.
The main customers for this electric pickup truck are farmers and agrarians. There are also orders from state-owned power generating companies. The test machines were ordered by one of the Ukrainian pharmacy chains.
The company does not pursue large orders, but rather develops assembly and use technologies, listens to feedback from users, finalizes the design, and then plans to scale.
Base prices: a two-seater pickup costs UAH 190,000. excluding VAT, City costs UAH 270,000. excluding VAT. Rechargeable batteries can be added depending on how much more range you need. Each battery costs about 45,000 UAH. excluding VAT.
The company estimates that the Ukrainian market needs about 15,000 electric vehicles. The maximum plan of the manufacturer of electric pickups Luaz is 1000 vehicles per year.
