40 caravanworld.com.au
CLOCKWISE FROM BELOW Cosy ensuite with flexible hose shower; the classic 'NZ back' offers a
sublime scenic 'lookout'; a handy drawer slides out from the side of the dinette loungeas Leyland DAF Vehicles. Britz has some
experience with the LDV cab chassis, the
2.5L turbodiesel-powered version at least, as
that’s what its Discovery motorhome is based
on in New Zealand. Here in Australia, it has
Mercedes-Benz Sprinter underpinnings.BODY TALK
Britz didn’t have to do any work with the
mechanical components of the battery-
powered motorhome as LDV sell its EV 80
cab chassis complete with a 100kW/320Nm
permanent magnet synchronous motor and
a 56kWh lithium iron phosphate battery
system. That is teamed up to a six-speed
auto gearbox.
It comes with all the expected safety
features including ABS disc brakes all round
and drive and passenger airbags.
Under the bonnet, things look a bit
different to a conventional engine but there
are still fluid levels to be checked, if nothing
else. In the bumper bar grill there are some
giant clues that something is different about
this vehicle. Here are located three different
sockets that can be used for charging up the
vehicle battery — there’s a power lead in the
vehicle for that purpose.
With an external length of just 5.82m
(19ft 1in), the eVolve is a relatively small
motorhome and it’s built very much in
the Britz/Maui/KEA style with fibreglass
composite panels and tinted glass windows
all around the rear with just the lower half
of both the side windows having an opening.
Definitely an NZ trait.
Interestingly, the door in the eVolve is
much more the European style with a non-
opening top half window.
Something that made me smile was the
small tunnel boot across the rear. Some
years ago that was a feature of just about all
NZ-built rental motorhomes and was good
for fishing rods and snow skis alike!“With an external
length of just
5.82m (19ft 1in),
the eVolve is a
relatively small
motorhome and
it’s built very much
in the Britz/Maui/
KEA style”