Callum, a design studio founded and led by ex-Jaguar Designer Ian Callum, has unveiled an electric van project named the eVita. Its biggest advantage is offering equal opportunities to disabled people, including wheelchair users. Callum won’t produce it, but says all major van manufacturers should take note.
The vehicle has six doors: two at the front end, two sliding side doors and a double folding door in the back designed for the disabled user. Once open, it extends a ramp to the ground for easy access. When parked, the van uses a built-in projector to illuminate the spot where the ramp needs to be so that the other drivers notice it and leave enough free space around it.
Callum also lowers the floor level for comfort. Even with this modification, the ground clearance comes to a solid 160 mm (6.25 inches). Special shock absorbers at the rear end help minimize floor movements. When fully charged, the 50-kWh battery pack on board delivers around 322 km (200 miles) of range.
Due to the space requirements for the wheelchair, the interior only houses three seats. The wheelchair user gains access to special accessibility equipment mounted on a dedicated console – a touchscreen display, a charger pad and a climate control panel. There is no trunk area, but the rear half of the interior has large shelves at both sides to compensate.
Callum never mentions the base vehicle in the project, but it looks like the eVita could be a Stellantis minivan – a Citroen Berlingo, an Opel Combo Life or a Peugeot Rifter.