New Scottish all-electric 4×4 pitched at farmers and miners goes on show

Munro MK_1 electric 4×4: Munro

New Scottish EV 4×4 manufacturer, Munro Vehicles, is displaying its Munro MK_1 production prototype for the first time this week at the Low Carbon Agriculture 2023 show which is running near Coventry in the UK.

Designed for use in the challenging conditions of farming, construction, mining, etc in addition to recreational use, the MK_1 has been deliberately built as a simple, easy to maintain vehicle for rugged conditions.

This includes a commitment to recognise the customers’ right to repair and maintain their vehicle without invalidating its five-year / 100,000-mile (160,000km) warranty.

Munro MK_1 Interior. Image: Munro Vehicles

According to Munro Vehicles, the Mk1 is engineered to “provide a unique solution for those wishing to minimize their environmental footprint without compromising off-road ability, performance and practicality.”

Munro CEO Russell Peterson, who co-founded the company with Head of Powertrain Ross Anderson in 2019, makes the point that “Meeting the demanding needs of the agriculture sector was foremost in our minds when we were developing the Munro MK_1.

“Spending much of my formative years on a farm and then running my own agricultural contracting company, I know only too well how important it is to have proper, proven kit that you can rely on whatever the weather and the conditions, and that won’t let you down no matter how much abuse you throw at it. And every Munro is engineered around those enduring values.”

The MK_1 will be offered in three trims: Utility, Range and Performance. Specifications for the Munro Mk_1 include a 280kW motor, 300km for the Range version (or up to 16 hours off-road use) and a 3,500 kg tow rating in the Performance trim.

Munro is also committed to implementing a low carbon manufacturing process utilising a fully electric factory with 100% renewable energy, as well as a design that is meant to last rather than encourage buyers to replace the vehicle every few years.

To this end, Munro tout that its vehicles “provide maximum return on their initial carbon investment. Instead of selling a new vehicle every three years, we intend to create a circular value chain by offering manufacturer-supported options for refurbishment and upgrade”

Pricing in the UK starts at £49,995 (Au$87,000) with deliveries expected to begin later this year.

As a start-up, Munro Vehicles plans to build 50 only vehicles in 2023 before transitioning to a new purpose-built site near Glasgow in 2024. From there, production will be ramped up to 250 vehicles per year with a strategic roadmap in place to deliver 2,500 units annually by 2027.

Munro Vehicles has been contacted for when/if they plan for an Australian release. This article will be updated as soon as The Driven receives a reply – I am sure there are many farmers and miners here that would love the opportunity to buy one!

Fuller specifications for the Munro MK_1 below:

POWERTRAIN

PEAK POWER: 220kW | 295hp PEAK TORQUE: 600Nm | 443ft-lb MAXIMUM ROTOR SPEED: 5000RPM MAXIMUM ROAD SPEED: 129km/h | 80mph ACCELERATION: 7.6s (0-100 km/hr) | 7.6s (0-60 mph) CONSUMPTION: 27.6kWh/100km | 2.25mi/kWh TRANSMISSION: Two-speed central transfer case with locking differential AXLES: Front and rear rigid beam axles with lockable* differential
TRACTION: Permanent mechanical four-wheel drive

BATTERY

CAPACITY: (gross/usable) Utility version: 61.2/56.3kWh Range and Performance version: 82.4/75.8kWh SYSTEM VOLTAGE: (nominal) 388.5V (384.8V for Utility version) ARCHITECTURE: Modular CELL CHEMISTRY: Lithium Nickel Manganese Cobalt Oxide
CONDITIONING: Dynamic (liquid) cooling and heating

DRIVING RANGE

275km (mixed driving including highway); Utility version: 204km 306km (optimal conditions); Utility version: 227km 245km (adverse conditions); Utility version: 181km
137.5km (towing); Utility version: 102km

CHARGING

MAXIMUM CHARGE RATE (DC): 70kW (Utility); 94kW (Range and Performance versions) 15-80% CHARGE (DC >100kW): 36 min 15-80% CHARGE (DC >50kW): 46 min (61 min Range and Performance versions) MAXIMUM CHARGE RATE (AC): 6.6kW (22kW optional in Range, standard in Performance versions) 15-100% CHARGE (AC 6.6kW): 6.9 Hours (Utility); 9.2 Hours (Range and Performance versions)
5-100% CHARGE (AC 22kW): 3.0 Hours (Range and Performance versions)

MASS & CAPABILITY

KERB WEIGHT: 2500kg MAXIMUM PAYLOAD: 1000kg GROSS VEHILCE WEIGHT: 3500kg MAXIMUM TOWING CAPACITY (BRAKED): 2500kg; 3500 kg (Performance) MAXIMUM TOWING CAPACITY (UNBRAKED): 750kg MAXIMUM COMBINED WEIGHT: 5180kg MAXIMUM GRADE (KERB WEIGHT): 38% (high range) 102% (low range) MAXIMUM GRADE (GVW): 20% (high range) 59% (low range) MAXIMUM GRADE (GCW): 18% (high range) 37% (low range)
BODY: Galvanised steel body-on-frame

SUSPENSION & CLEARANCE

SUSPENSION: Coil sprung with shock absorbers APPROACH ANGLE: 84° DEPARTURE ANGLE: 51° RAMP (BREAK-OVER) ANGLE: 148°
MINIMUM CLEARANCE (TO BODY): 480mm | 18.9inches

PASSENGER COMFORT

CLIMATE: Climate control with heat pump
SEATING: 1st Row seating with deletion of second row

WHEELS & TYRES

WHEELS: Steel
TYRES: Standard all-terrain

LIGHTING

HEADLIGHTS: LED DAYTIME RUNNING LIGHTS: LED TAIL LIGHTS: LED FRONT AND REAR INDICATORS: LED REVERSE LIGHTS: LED FOGLIGHTS: LED
CABIN LIGHTING: LED (strip)

LOAD AREA

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