An All-Electric Utility Vehicle in America? Checking out the Cenntro Metro at the OC Auto Show [Tech Tuesday]

by Drew Kaplan · Published October 20, 2015 · Updated December 8, 2015

A pick up body of the Cenntro Metro

A base model of the Cenntro Metro

This past weekend at the 2015 Orange County International Auto Show, I came across a really neat vehicle; one that certainly seemed quite different than all of the rest. Looking like a little truck, yet advertised as an electric vehicle, my curiosity was piqued. The Cenntro Metro is a pretty new vehicle, with its production facility having begun last year outside of Reno, NV, in Sparks, NV and its first vehicles having come out this year.

The Metro is an all-electric compact utility vehicle that is really useful as a truck for manifold uses as would regular truck, such as campus maintenance, park services, city delivery, and many other applications. The variety of applications can be accommodated through a half-dozen different body types: whether in van box, flat bed, pick up, cage box, canvas box, or refrigerated box. The Metro offers a range of up to 50-70 miles on a single charge, a payload of 1,400 pounds and a top speed of 25 mph, which is awesome for an neighborhood electric vehicle!

The vehicle is on the small side

The first thing I thought when I laid eyes on the Metro was that it looked European. Yes, the Metro was created in Europe and has been sold in Europe since 2013. However, Cenntro Automotive added the Metro to its product portfolio when they acquired Brant Motors of Lyon, France, allowing them to bring the Metro to the US. The acquisition, valued at $50 million, included the all-electric utility vehicle, the Metro, which should be a boon to those who use trucks and can save a lot of money on fuel. It should be interesting to see these vehicles on the road soon!

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