The Ultimate Guide to Workhorse C-Series
The Workhorse Group, one of the top innovators in EV technology, has a mission of “changing the way the world works.” One key to the commercial world being able to function at all is delivering goods and products from one place to another, and that’s where Workhorse is already stepping out as a leader.
The Workhorse C-Series line of all-electric delivery vans is literally leading the way for next-generation delivery solutions that are independent of fossil fuels.
Workhorse’s innovative “step vans” – the C1000 and its smaller sibling the C650 – each have a fairly short range of just 100 miles and are designed to work in tandem with the company’s own sophisticated drones for “last mile delivery” to homes and businesses.
The vans are already in demand by some of the biggest movers in the in the transportation industry. They are expected to start rolling out any day now in pretty big numbers after a few years of extensive testing in neighborhoods around the company’s research base outside Cincinnati.
About the Workhorse C-Series
The term “step van” comes from the fact that the vans are relatively low to the ground and have clear access for entering and exiting through open doors on either side of the vehicle’s cab, making it easier for the driver to step in and out.
The Workhorse C-Series vans are designed to make their jobs easier in other ways, too, as well as being more economical and more environmentally friendly.
The design of the vans is pretty simple in nature. Each vehicle in the Workhouse C-Series has two main parts – a composite body on top of a flatbed, or “skateboard” style of frame that holds the electric motors and batteries. Each vehicle has a four-wheel independent suspension and includes rear air shocks.
The company’s unique powertrain design is a modular system that allows for quick removal and replacement, if necessary, to keep the vans on the roads with as little delay as possible should they happen to break down.
Each is equipped with a proprietary telematics system called Metron that is designed as a multi-platform app that allows the user to track and monitor all vehicles in the fleet in order to optimize them in terms of efficiency.
The Workhorse C-Series Specs
There are two models in the Workhorse C-Series, and the main difference is their length. The C1000 model has a capacity of 1,000 cubic feet and an overall length of 27 feet while the C650 has a 650-cubic-foot cargo area and is shorter by about six and a half feet. (The C-Series line is expected to expand, too – a larger C1250 version is planned for down the road.)
Each of the vans has a width of 86 inches, a height of 122 inches and a ground clearance of just 7.5 inches. The wheelbase for the C1000 is 190 inches, and the C650’s is 158 inches.
The vehicle’s one-piece composite body, while being durable and rustproof, is said to be lighter than aluminum. The Workhorse C-Series vans weigh in at 6,000 pounds and can carry their own weight in terms of payload.
The company lists the gross axle weight rating at 5,000 pounds for the front and 7,500 for the rear.
The vehicles have a top speed of 75 mph and are powered by a modular battery pack system that provides between 35 kilowatt-hours (kWh) when equipped with two battery packs and 70 kWh in its standard four-pack configuration.
Production & Orders
The company has a production facility in Union City, Indiana, too, and that’s where as many as 400 of the Workhorse C-Series step vans could be assembled by the end of the year.
Workhorse says it has continued on track for the most part during the COVID-19 crisis, and should remain on schedule for delivery of the first of the vehicles sometime this month (July 2020) barring any supply chain issues.
Major clients include UPS, which reportedly has ordered 1,100 of the vans, as well as DHL and FedEx. The Workhorse C-Series vans also will be available to commercial users in California through a peer-to-peer truck rental arrangement through Ryder’s COOP program that connects the revolutionary new vehicles with fleet managers who need them.
The future of delivery services around the world is becoming more streamlined and efficient while moving quickly toward completely sustainable energy sources. With pioneers in the emerging field like the Workhouse Group, with its C-Series full-electric step vans, the future isn’t quite here and now, but it’s almost within our grasp.
Become an Electric Vehicle USA Insider
Don’t miss any of the latest EV news in the USA. From pickup trucks to ebikes, we’ve got you covered.
Become an EV USA Insider below: