AYRO Vanish unveiled as US-built electric mini truck

The AYRO Vanish LSV utility has just been unveiled, introducing a new roadmap for the company’s US-built electric low-speed vehicles.
LSV, or Low Speed ​​Vehicle, is a federally recognized vehicle class that falls in the regulatory category between motorcycles and automobiles.
Like the European L6e or L7e four-wheeled vehicle, the American LSV is a car-like four-wheeled vehicle that is not, strictly speaking, a car. Instead, they exist in their own separate class of vehicles, with fewer safety and manufacturing regulations than highway cars.
They still need basic safety equipment such as DOT-compliant seat belts, rear view cameras, mirrors and lights, but they don’t need expensive and complex equipment such as airbags or crash safety compliance.
This safety trade-off allows them to be produced in smaller quantities and at lower prices. With full-size electric trucks from American manufacturers like Ford, General Motors and Rivian pushing up prices lately, AYRO Vanish’s tiny electric mini truck could be a refreshing change of pace.
In the US, LSVs are allowed to operate on public roads with a posted speed limit of up to 35 mph (56 km/h), but are themselves limited to a maximum speed of 25 mph (40 km/h).
The electric mini truck has a highly adaptable platform to support both light and heavy duty operations. The LSV variant has a maximum payload of 1,200 lb (544 kg), although the company says the non-LSV variant has a higher payload of 1,800 lb (816 kg).
The estimated range of 50 miles (80 km) is certainly no match for the new Rivian or the Ford F-150 Lightning, but the AYRO Vanish is designed for more local operations where a range of 50 miles might be sufficient. Think workplace utilities or local deliveries, not off-road trips.
When charging is required, the electric mini truck can use a traditional 120V or 240V wall outlet, or can be configured as a J1772 charger like most public charging stations.
At just under 13 feet (3.94 meters) long, the AYRO Vanish is about two-thirds the length and width of the Ford F-150 Lightning. It can even be driven through the double doors when the mirrors are removed, the company says.
Vanish’s development process included the filing of two new design patents, several fundamentally innovative sustainability patents, four U.S. utility technology patents, and two additional U.S. utility model patent applications.
The car is assembled at the AYRO plant in Texas using predominantly North American and European components.
We designed AYRO Vanish from the ground up. From concept to production to implementation, we want to make sure every detail is taken into account. In addition, the vehicle, sourced primarily from North America and Europe, is being final assembled and integrated at our facility in Round Rock, Texas, eliminating concerns about rising transpacific shipping costs, transit times, import duties and quality.
The company describes ideal applications for the AYRO Vanish as industries where a traditional pickup is too big and a golf cart or UTV can be too small. Areas such as universities, corporate and medical campuses, hotels and resorts, golf courses, stadiums and marinas can be ideal applications as well as delivery vehicles around the city.
In congested cities where traffic rarely exceeds 25 mph (40 km/h), the AYRO Vanish is the perfect fit, providing an alternative to traditional zero-emission vehicles.
Our goal at AYRO is to redefine the very nature of sustainability. At AYRO, we work together with our customers to achieve a future where our solutions go beyond limiting carbon emissions. In developing the AYRO Vanish and our future product roadmap, we developed tire treads, fuel cells, toxic fluids, harsh sounds and even harsh visuals. That’s it: sustainability isn’t just a destination, it’s an evolving journey.
LSV is a small but growing industry in the US. Most notable are vehicles such as the GEM Community Electric Vehicle often seen in hotels, resorts and airports. Some illegal Asian breeds have begun to be imported into the United States in limited quantities. I even imported my own electric mini truck from China for a fraction of what most American Chinese electric mini truck importers charge.
The AYRO Vanish is expected to cost around $25,000, well above the cost of a less powerful golf cart and closer to that of an American-made electric UTV. That’s the equivalent of a $25,000 Polaris RANGER XP Kinetic UTV and less than $26,500 for a GEM truck with a lithium-ion battery (although GEM vehicles with lead-acid batteries start at around $17,000).
Compared to the Pickman Electric Mini Truck, the only U.S. street electric mini truck with stable stock, the AYRO Vanish costs about 25 percent more. Its local assembly and US and European parts help offset its $5,000 premium over the $20,000 lithium-ion version of Pickman’s truck.
AYRO prices can still be a bit high for most private consumers, though that pales in comparison to full-size electric trucks that can travel on the highway. However, AYRO Vanish attracts business customers more than private drivers. Additional rear cargo configurations including food boxes, a flat bed, a utility bed with a three-sided tailgate, and a cargo box for safe storage indicate potential commercial applications for the vehicle.
Our first test vehicles will be available later this year. We will also begin accepting pre-orders early next year, with mass production starting in the first quarter of 2023.
Mika Toll is a personal electric vehicle enthusiast, battery lover, and author of the #1 Amazon selling books DIY Lithium Batteries, DIY Solar Power, The Ultimate DIY Electric Bike Guide, and The Electric Bike Manifesto.
The e-bikes that make up Mika’s current daily riders are the $999 Lectric XP 2.0, the $1,095 Ride1Up Roadster V2, the $1,199 Rad Power Bikes RadMission, and the $3,299 Priority Current. But these days it’s a constantly changing list.