BLAVAL Model A Solar Electric Taxi 5 Door 4 Seat with Battery Swap
The Model A is built for taxi, ride hailing and shared car operations where vehicle uptime matters more than anything else. It carries a swappable 9.8 kWh lithium iron phosphate pack, and changing it takes about fifty seconds. There is no charging point in the loop and no charging time in the driver’s day.
It is an SUV, at 3600 mm long with 2440 mm of wheelbase and 230 mm of ground clearance, with five doors and four seats. A 25 kW permanent magnet synchronous motor drives the rear wheels, giving 90 km/h and 200 km NEDC on a full pack, with a 25 percent climbable gradient for the road conditions the vehicle is actually used on.
The solar roof still does its part. It adds about 30 km of range per day and keeps the battery topped up while the vehicle is parked, which means a swapped-in pack starts the day partly charged rather than empty. On a 25 percent climbable gradient with 230 mm of clearance, rough urban roads and unmade approaches are not the constraint they would be in a low-riding car.
A taxi that never queues for a charger: the pack comes out and a charged one goes in, in fifty seconds.
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Fifty seconds, then back in service
The pack is designed to be removed and replaced rather than charged on the vehicle. A full exchange takes about fifty seconds, which is faster than filling a fuel tank and faster than a typical fast charge.
A depot running a stock of charged packs removes range planning from the driver’s day entirely. The vehicle does not wait on a charger because it does not use one.
Battery pack exchange at the vehicle rear
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An SUV body for the roads these vehicles work on
At 3600 mm long with a 2440 mm wheelbase and 230 mm of ground clearance, the Model A has more presence on the road and more ground clearance than a typical city hatch.
A 25 percent climbable gradient, front disc and rear drum brakes, and a steel wheel and tyre package chosen for durability rather than appearance. This is a working vehicle specification.
SUV profile, ground clearance and wheel detail
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Solar tops up the pack while the fleet is parked
Between shifts the roof photovoltaic system feeds the battery and disconnects at full charge. A pack that has been standing in the sun starts the next shift partly charged.
For a fleet, that is a direct reduction in how many charged packs a depot has to hold and how much energy the vehicles draw from the grid.
Roof panel and parked vehicle
Key Features
What sets the Model A apart
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50 second battery exchange
A removable 9.8 kWh pack that changes in about fifty seconds, removing charging time and charging points from the operating day.
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200 km NEDC per pack
Each pack delivers 200 km NEDC, and the roof photovoltaic system adds about 30 km on a day with good light.
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SUV body, 230 mm clearance
3600 mm long with a 2440 mm wheelbase and a 25 percent climbable gradient for rough roads, ramps and unmade entrances.
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Five doors, four seats
Room for a driver and three passengers, with the rear seats foldable to extend the load area.
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Full roof photovoltaic system
Solar generation keeps the pack topped up while the vehicle is parked, reducing grid draw across a fleet.
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5 kWh per 100 km
Automatic high and low speed switching holds consumption to around 5 kWh per 100 km.
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V2L 220 V output at 3 to 6 kW
A bidirectional inverter delivers 220 V AC for waiting area, event use or emergency backup.
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9-inch Android touch screen
A central touch screen running Android with USB, Bluetooth, radio, music, video and Google Maps.
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Rotary gear selector
A knob selector with E, D, N and R positions, which is quicker to operate repeatedly than a lever and easier to reach in traffic.
Applications
Where the Model A fits
Taxi and ride hailing
The primary use. Fifty-second pack exchange keeps vehicles in service through long shifts without waiting on a charger.
Shared car schemes
Fleet depots running a stock of charged packs can maintain high availability without extensive charging infrastructure.
Campus and estate transport
A single depot on site is enough to keep a fleet of vehicles running, with no external charging network required.
Developing market operations
Markets where charging infrastructure is sparse benefit most from a vehicle that swaps power rather than searching for it.
Technology
The systems behind the range
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Full roof photovoltaic generation
About 30 km of range added every day by the sun. While the vehicle is parked, the photovoltaic system feeds the power battery and cuts out automatically once it is full. While the vehicle is moving, solar power is directed to loads such as the air conditioning first, which reduces the load on the electronic control system and improves acceleration and climbing. In poor weather the battery alone still delivers the full range.
02
E-LOOP energy recovery system
Range improved by 30 percent. The E-LOOP system integrates deceleration kinetic energy, coasting energy, braking energy and photovoltaic energy with battery management matching and the electric power characteristics of the drive motor, controller and pack. Drive mode and energy feedback are unified so recovered electricity is actually reused.
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V2L vehicle power management
3 to 6 kW of 220 V AC power on tap. A bidirectional inverter turns the traction battery into a mobile energy storage station. The discharge gun delivers 220 V AC through its own socket at up to 3 to 6 kW, covering camping, fishing, hunting, self-driving trips and emergency backup when the grid is down.
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Automatic torque and speed switching
5 kWh per 100 km. The vehicle switches between high and low speed modes according to the driving situation. On gradients it drops into a low speed, high torque mode for climbing ability, and returns to the high speed mode on open roads to save energy. Consumption is around 5 kWh per 100 km.
Certification and Supply
Approvals, documentation and export support
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EEC whole vehicle approval
European whole vehicle type approval is available, including the Solar2 under e13*168/2013*02250*00 as an L7e-CU. L-class and M1-class world manufacturing identifiers are in place, and the approval route for the destination market is confirmed in writing before order.
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ISO quality management
Quality management systems are certified to ISO standards, with documentation provided with the vehicle.
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Right-hand drive supply
Right-hand drive solar vehicles are supplied to more than 90 countries and regions, concentrated in southern Africa, South Asia and Southeast Asia. Hand of drive is specified per model at order.
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Vehicle programme options
OEM, SKD and CKD supply modes are available, along with logo customisation, custom body colour and container packaging and protection planning.
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Battery pack support
Lithium battery pack customisation is available, as is modification of right-hand drive vehicles for specific markets.
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Sea freight documentation
Documentation for sea transportation of electric vehicles with lithium batteries is provided, including the required declaration and handling paperwork.
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Export market fit
Low latitude markets with strong solar resources show the highest acceptance, and several countries apply zero duty to electric vehicles imported in complete vehicle form. Rates and eligibility are re-checked at the time of order.
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Service and training
Product and technical training, export documentation support and after-sales service are provided as part of the supply arrangement.
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V2L and emergency use
The V2L system makes the vehicle usable as a mobile power source, which extends its value beyond transport during outages and outdoor use.
FAQ
Model A questions
How does the battery swap work in practice?
The 9.8 kWh lithium iron phosphate pack is removable. A full exchange takes about fifty seconds, and the vehicle goes straight back into service. A depot holds a stock of charged packs and swaps them rather than charging on the vehicle.
Does the car charge at all, or only swap?
It swaps. There is no on-board charging in this configuration, which is the point: the operating model is exchange rather than charge. The roof photovoltaic system still charges the pack while the vehicle is parked, keeping it topped up between shifts.
What range does each pack give?
200 km NEDC per pack, with about 30 km typically added on a day of adequate sunlight. Real-world driving usually lands between 100 and 160 km depending on speed, load and traffic.
Why SUV body and ground clearance for a taxi?
These vehicles work on the roads they are used on rather than on showroom roads. 230 mm of clearance and a 25 percent climbable gradient handle broken tarmac, ramps and unmade approaches, and the SUV body gives better visibility and road presence in heavy urban traffic.
Is it available in right-hand drive?
Yes. Right-hand drive supply is a major part of the range across Africa, South Asia and Southeast Asia, which is where taxi and ride hailing operations at this scale are concentrated. Hand of drive is confirmed at order.
How many packs does a depot need?
That depends on vehicle count, shift length and route intensity, and it is worked out with the supplier against your actual operation rather than estimated generically. Tell us your fleet size and daily distance and we will size the pack stock accordingly.
What safety equipment is fitted?
Three-point seat belts for driver and passenger, hill assist and hill descent control, side impact beams, a battery management system with current and voltage protection, and central locking with child lock and window lock.
What colours are available?
Body colour is agreed against a physical sample or the paint code rather than a fixed published list. Custom colour matching and fleet livery are both available against order quantity, and fleet branding is normal on this vehicle type.
Is the battery pack covered by a warranty?
Pack warranty terms are set against the operating model and the destination market, and are provided in writing with the quotation. The exchange programme is normally structured alongside the supply agreement.