Lion Electric revealed its new Class 5 offering, the Lion5, powered by the first LionBattery pack, Lion’s own in-house engineered and manufactured 800V battery pack.

The Lion5 has a maximum payload of 12,500 pounds and is scheduled for production before the end of 2023, company officials said during the Advanced Clean Transportation Expo in Anaheim, California, May 3.

Lion5 — Beyond Last-Mile Delivery

While it’s positioned for last-mile delivery, it will fit easily into many more applications with its GVWR Class 5-to-6 crossover capabilities.

In Class 5, it has a GVWR of 19,500 lbs., up through 26,000 lbs. in Class 6.  

Whether requiring payload capacity, towing capability, or both, the Lion5 harnesses 315 hp and 2,360 lb.-ft of torque and can be equipped with a GCWR of up to 30,000 lbs. for towing small- to medium-sized trailers.

“The Lion5 is a perfect example of what we call a purpose-built electric truck,” said company founder and CEO, Marc Bedard. “It's designed to be easily integrated into truck fleets for last-mile and middle-mile delivery, and as many other uses as the operators see fit. This truck has a great total cost of ownership and we trust it will become the best friend of the drivers and mechanics.”

Upgraded Ride and Handling Performance

Drivers and passengers will appreciate the premium ride and handling performance derived from the Lion5’s low center of gravity and well-balanced front-to-back weight distribution.

It also has auto-leveling four-wheel independent suspension standard on certain models. For added safety and traction management, the Lion5 has electronic stability control, traction control, hill-start assist, and a limited-slip differential.

At 96 inches wide, the Lion5’s cab can be configured as a full-cab or a cutaway configuration enabling seamless pass-through between the cab and any suitable body upfit.

When it comes to exiting the vehicle, Lion engineered the steps to form into the cab for immediate visibility from the driver’s or passenger’s seat when their respective door is open. Adding to the safety and ease of entering and exiting, the adaptive independent suspension variants have a programmable feature that lowers the vehicle three inches when opening the door.

“That’s a key feature when the truck is spec’d as an ambulance allowing for much easier access and egress with patients,” said Bedard.

The Lion5 has been engineered to be upfit with any suitable body application. Bodybuilders have access to 4kW of low voltage and up to 32kW of high voltage when equipped with the optional ePTO interface. For additional flexibility, upfitters can choose from multiple LionBattery pack placement configurations, depending on build specification selections.

LionBattery Powers the Future for Lion Electric

First installed on the Lion5, the LionBattery is an 800v proprietary battery system comprised of a battery management system, a battery thermal management system, and battery modules and packs.

The LionBattery was designed to optimize performance, integration, and packaging throughout Lion’s complete portfolio of commercial trucks and buses. In the Lion5, it will deliver a range of up to 200 miles, while having the capability to be charged to 80% in 1.5 hours.