ROME – After a series of targeted presentations, pre-orders will close in a few weeks and the most iconic British van of all time is getting ready for its debut on the roads for 2022. We are talking about the Morris Commercial J-Type which was presented for the first time in 1948 and in over 10 years of marketing in 25 countries, almost all of the Commonwealth, became the best-selling van in the world and was chosen for its large load capacity and work, thanks to the then innovative sliding doors and the low and flat bottom from the British army, the postal service and many companies.
Due to its original style, starting with the curved roof, it also became the first advertising vehicle, chosen by many companies that could easily insert the side panels to advertise and modify their message and immortalized it in many films of the 50s and ‘ 60. Now thanks to the electric technology that is bringing back to life great models of the past in an ecological version, from the Renault 4 to the Volkswagen Bulli, just to give two examples, the Morris J-Type is also reborn with the name JE.
The initiative is by the start-up Morris Commercial Ltd, founded in 2017 by Qu Li in Hinton-On-The-Green, in the county of Worcestershire, in the heart of the United Kingdom, which in addition to the van version, due to the flexibility of the new EV technology and to broaden the market, it presents a pick-up version and a van, which seems to aim directly at the Bulli nostalgic market. The new Morris JE in addition to the original style, with a split windshield, pear-shaped fake radiator grille that hides the charging socket, has many of the interesting features that determined success in the past. In 4.6 meters in length, this van can carry loads up to one ton in weight and 6 cubic meters in volume, objects with a length of up to 2.4 meters or two euro pallets side by side.
With one of the lowest heights from the ground of the loading platform, it also allows movements with minimum effort and without obstructions thanks to the opening of the rear doors at 240 degrees which are added to the three side doors. Built for more than half of recycled material including the carbon fiber of the entire vehicle body, Morris JE does not reach 2500 kg in weight and with a 60 kWh electric battery, guarantees a range of 320 km and a recharge of 80 % in half an hour using the 50kWh quick charger and about 9 hours, with a standard 7kW charging socket. Binding price of 60,000 pounds (51,000 euros at current exchange rates) and an initial production of 1,000 pieces.
.