REE, an automotive tech company from Israel, has unveiled their latest concept vehicle called the Leopard. The fully autonomous shuttle is based on the modular REEboard EV architecture and is designed as a last-mile delivery solution.
The Leopard looks like a tiny bus with a
boxy shape, large glass surfaces, and futuristic graphics. It has a small
footprint of 2.5 m2, with a length of 3.4 m and a narrow width of 1.4 m for greater maneuverability in city
roads. The floor-mounted battery has a capacity of 50 kWh, while an electric
motor sending power to the rear wheels allows for a top speed of 97 km/h.
What is more important for the vehicle’s
role is the ability to carry up to 5,097 lt (180 cubic feet) of cargo thanks to
the low and flat floor and the boxy shape. It also has a 2-tonne gross vehicle
weight which sounds sufficient for last-mile deliveries. The vehicle is also
designed with a low cost of ownership in mind, making it ideal for fleet use. A
full-scale concept of the REE Leopard will be showcased in CES 2022.
The platform features X-by-wire REEcorner
technology for drive, steer, and brake control. Its modularity allows it to
accommodate vehicles measuring between 2.9 – 3.5 m in
length, 1.2 – 1.8 m in width, and 1.4 – 2.2 m in height, with a cargo capacity of up to 7,500 lt (265 cubic feet).
The architecture supports battery capacities of up to 60 kWh, and electric motors
producing up to 134 hp for a top speed of up to 160 km/h. REE states that their tech allows customers to build fleets of autonomous
EVs for transporting passengers and cargo.
REE, which is headquartered in Herzliya,
Israel, has an engineering center in the UK, and subsidiaries worldwide. Last
July, it announced plans to open its U.S. headquarters in Austin, Texas, with
production slated for 2023. A month later the company announced that its
REEcorner technology would be receiving £ 12.5 million (US$ 17 million) in funding
from the UK government.
