Arrival has unveiled its new fully-electric van which will be starting public road trials with key customers this summer.

The manufacturer says its new vehicle, which is expected to go into full production in Q3 2022, will have a payload (1,975kg) and cargo volume (2.4 cu m per meter in length) which exceed those offered by fossil fuel vans at a comparable price and a substantially lower total cost of ownership.

It says the flexibility provided by the modular battery ranging from 44hWh to 133kWh means operators can choose the battery configuration that is best suited for their range requirements.

The vehicle, which will be available in lengths from 5.1m to 6.5m, will use a lightweight aluminium frame and proprietary composite body panels to significantly decrease the weight of the vehicle for greater range efficiency, reduce the frequency and cost of repairs, as well as extend the van’s life expectancy.

Avinash Ruguboor, president and chief strategy officer of Arrival, said: “We believe the rapid growth of e-commerce has led to a much higher demand for light commercial transport in cities, increasing both congestion and air pollution.

“We are in the midst of an important market transition as more and more fleet managers adopt cleaner and more sustainable methods and cities adopt stricter air quality measure.”

Arrival says the van is also designed to bring a new level of comfort to the commercial market and will feature heated seating, independent front and rear suspension, climate control and a 15.6-inch touchscreen to communicate data being collected from the vehicle.

Advanced driver assistance systems technology which will be available includes digital e-mirrors, a 360-degree surround view, advanced emergency braking, blindspot monitoring, traffic sign recognition, and lane keep assist.