Automobiles DANGEL announced today, at the opening of the IAA transportation show in Hanover (Germany), the launch of a new range to its powertrain offering. The launch follows the signing of a strategic partnership between DANGEL and BEDEO, a pioneer in the electrification of commercial vehicles. This new range, BEDEO Reborn, aims to modernise large vans with diesel engines by transforming them into hybrid electric or 100% electric vehicles. Under the agreement, Dangel will market the Reborn Electric range to French customers under the brand name DANGEL, powered by BEDEO.

The Reborn Electric range is developed and manufactured in-house according to the production and quality standards of automotive manufacturers. It is supported by exclusive electronic solutions, including Inverter Wheel Motor (IWM) technology, inverters and batteries.

The new offering comes at a time when light commercial vehicles (LCVs) account for 40% of all logistics-related emissions, underlining the importance of LCV electrification (source: McKinsey & Company).

Osman Boyner, founder and CEO of BEDEO, said: ‘The French retrofit market for large vans is growing, and our strategic partnership with DANGEL is a direct response to this demand and the need to decarbonise light commercial vehicle fleets. Working with DANGEL will enable our approved Reborn Electric solutions to reach a wider range of French fleet users and benefit from the manufacturer's experience and expertise in commercial vehicle manufacturing. Given the European scope and the ideal location of the manufacturing plant in eastern France, this agreement could be extended to other European countries in the near future - retrofitting is the most cost-effective and least intrusive way of electrifying a fleet.

Reborn Electric is available in pure electric form - BE - and models can be fitted with a 37 kWh or 75 kWh battery, giving drivers a WLTP range of 117 km or 248 km respectively. It sits alongside the range-extender (RE) version, available as the RE-100, which retains the original diesel engine and adds a 37 kWh battery to provide 117 km of range in electric mode and 600 km with its range extender. The RE-100 allows fleets to travel around town in electric mode only, then use the original diesel engine (often Euro 6 compliant) to get to depots outside the city.

Automobiles DANGEL specialises in transforming commercial vehicles into 4x4s or trekking vehicles, and is a Tier 2 automotive manufacturer and partner of the Peugeot, Citroën, Opel, Fiat and Toyota brands. The company offers its customers, both professional and private, a solution tailored to their needs in terms of traction: body extension, protection of sensitive components and, depending on requirements, a 4x4 transmission or the installation of a limited-slip front differential.
DANGEL will market the Reborn Electric range alongside its current range. DANGEL vehicles powered by BEDEO will be manufactured and tested at the Sentheim site in Alsace, France. Under this licence, DANGEL can sell directly to all French fleets, companies and end customers.

There is currently a strong demand for retrofits in France. Speaking about the market opportunity and the need to adopt a circular economy, Philippe HEBERT, Chairman and CEO of Automobiles DANGEL, said on the occasion of the signing of this partnership: ‘BEDEO's Reborn Electric offering will enable DANGEL to accelerate its transition to electrification and provide a comprehensive range of solutions to meet all driveability requirements: from Trek, with improved two-wheel drive, to 4x4 for demanding road conditions, via the retrofit of diesel vehicles. By teaming up with a company that is a pioneer in its field and with which we share the same passion, we are reaffirming our position as a key partner for both private individuals and professionals when it comes to driveability’.