Farizon, a Geely Group company, has just started its operation in the Brazilian market with the F3E, an electric VUC of up to 3.5 tons that arrives in the country for R$ 240 thousand. The truck arrives simultaneously with the launch in other markets, such as China, and its main application is urban distribution operations, especially those related to e-commerce and last-mile deliveries.
2 The brand’s strategy, which is represented here by the Timber Group, is based on an assessment that urban transport will be one of the areas of greatest advance in electrification in Brazil. The F3E was developed for optimized operations. That is, in the condition that the vehicle returns to the garage daily and can be recharged overnight.
Compact, the F3E follows the recipe of other VUCs for urban use, but with an electric motor, and has a GVW of 3.5 tons (Photo: Farizon | Disclosure)
The model is equipped with an electric motor with 150 hp and 30.6 kgfm of torque, fueled by a 72.84 kWh Lithium Iron Phosphate (LiFePO4) battery, which promises autonomy in the range of 250 km. According to the manufacturer, the combination offers balance in the delivery of power and the average mileage practiced by fleet owners.
In our surveys, based on operations of large e-commerce companies on urban routes, the average mileage of a VUC is around 120 km. This means that the F3E, depending on the operation, can run up to two days without recharging”, comments Rodrigo Pikussa, responsible for Farizon operations in Brazil.
Farizon F3E details
One of the differentials of the model is the wheelbase of 3.70 meters, 60 centimeters higher than that of a conventional configuration in the segment. According to Rodrigo Pikussa, responsible for Farizon operations in Brazil, the measure allows the installation of larger trunks that do not need to be so high. “When the trunk is too high, there is a compromise of stability, not to mention that there are limitations in stacking the load,” he explains.
In addition, the truck also has sophisticated car features, such as keyless start, driving assistants, digital climate control, digital instrument panel and floating multimedia with connection for smartphones. “Today the fleet owner already thinks about the onboard content, which increases driver satisfaction and retention. In addition, the e-commerce driver is highly demanded and, statistically due to the number of claims, is exposed to more risks. Assistance tools will reduce accidents and consequently, operating costs, in addition to offering more safety for those who spend hours behind the wheel”, he comments.
Rationality in the battery and range
Amenities such as driving assistants, multimedia (with smartphone connection) and digital climate control reduce the wear and tear of drivers behind the wheel and increase safety (Photo: Farizon | Disclosure)
The F3E also has fast charging options, allowing you to expand the use of the vehicle when necessary. The vehicle supports different types of chargers such as a 7 kW walbox, as well as recharging in three-phase networks and even in direct current stations of up to 100 kW.
For Farizon, however, the most efficient operation does not necessarily depend on fast recharges. The ideal scenario is one in which the route is predictable and there is a fixed recharging point at the base, especially during the night, which can spend a few hours at the outlet, without the need for such a powerful (and expensive) charger, in addition to the cost of energy tends to be lower.
The range was also dimensioned to avoid excess weight caused by larger batteries. For Pikussa, urban vehicles do not necessarily need to exceed 300 kilometers of range. A larger battery would add weight and cost without necessarily bringing benefit to an operation that travels shorter distances daily.
Electric as a tool for cost
reduction Farizon argues that the decision to electrify commercial vehicles is no longer associated only with corporate image or environmental commitments. The company’s assessment is that operating cost is beginning to be the main argument for replacing combustion models.
The F3E costs R$ 45 thousand more than a 2.5-ton Kia Bongo, used by the company as a market reference, with a price in the range of R$ 195 thousand. According to Pikussa, this difference can already be compensated by the operation of the electric vehicle, depending on the daily mileage, the price of diesel and the electricity tariff.
Another point considered by the company is maintenance. Electric vehicles require less maintenance than a combustion car. Engine and transmission defects are recurrent in thermal engines and practically non-existent in an electric vehicle. In addition, the great fear of battery defect is mitigated by the manufacturer, which offers an eight-year or 400,000-kilometer warranty.
“The expectation is that the vehicle will be replaced, on average, after five years of use, while the battery has a longer useful life than the truck itself. The absence of components such as the combustion engine, exhaust system and gearbox also reduces the number of items subject to maintenance”, he explains.
Farizon also projects a different behavior in the used market. The company assesses that the demand for used electric vehicles is already starting to exceed that of combustion models in some segments and that this trend may reach commercial vehicles. In this scenario, the residual value of the F3E would be another factor to be considered in the acquisition account.
“A combustion vehicle will have a large maintenance cost after five years of use, unlike an electric one, which if it needs repair will be occasional body shop breakdowns. There is no box breakage, oil burning in an electric vehicle. For the second owner it is also a peace of mind.
Initial focus on large fleets
Farizon begins with direct sales and its own team, prioritizing large transport operators and e-commerce companies. The strategy seeks to generate volume before expanding distribution through regional partners. The company has already started agreements with dealer networks in the South and Southeast regions and intends to expand coverage gradually.
Mobile workshop service serves fleet owners at their own base and outside operating hours to prevent the vehicle from being stopped (Photo: Farizon | Disclosure)
After-sales will be based on simplified maintenance and longer intervals between interventions. The brand also uses mobile service units, transforming vans into workshops to perform services directly at the companies’ bases, including at the end of the shift.
For more complex repairs and collisions, the strategy provides for partnerships with authorized workshops with a standard defined by the brand, with the participation of the mobile structure when necessary.
Farizon also offers the necessary infrastructure for electrical operation. Within the group, a division works with chargers and offers equipment from 7 to 160 kW, as well as projects for electric stations and consulting for installation.
The proposal is to evaluate the infrastructure of each operation before defining the equipment. The analysis considers the fleet profile, the routine of the vehicles, the charging schedules and the energy demand. “The solution is not the vehicle, but the ecosystem,” summarizes Pikussa.
With F3E, Farizon intends to position the electric truck as a productivity tool for urban operations. The logic defended by the company is that, by organizing schedules, routes, recharging and driving in a more rational way, the operator can also improve the efficiency of the combustion fleet itself (as long as it survives).
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