How we turned green mean - The making of the new Farizon SV Sport

The Farizon SV Sport, unveiled at FixFest on Saturday by Farizon Auto UK, was born from a simple question: what if people wanted an electric van simply because they loved the way it looked?

That question emerged during discussions between CPD, Farizon Auto UK and colleagues during a visit to China. What began as a conversation about encouraging greater adoption of electric commercial vehicles quickly evolved into something much bigger: the idea that a working van could have genuine road presence without sacrificing the practicality that businesses depend on every day. 

Working in partnership with Farizon Auto UK, CPD developed and engineered the SV Sport enhancement package, transforming the award-winning Farizon SV L1H1 with a striking, sport-inspired design kit. 

CPD's addition of the deeper front splitter gives the SV Sport a lower, more purposeful stance. Sculpted side skirts visually lengthen the profile. Picture courtesy Farizon Auto UK

Unmistakeable assertiveness is achieved through the addition of a rear diffuser, roof spoiler and some business-like 20" alloys. Picture courtesy Farizon Auto UK

Electric, but with attitude. 

For many tradespeople and business owners, a van is far more than a means of getting from one job to the next. It is their workshop, their office, their calling card and often the first impression customers have of their business. And yet, most commercial vehicles have traditionally been sold on rational arguments alone. What’s the payload? What are the running costs? If it’s electric, how long does it take to charge?  Is it going to cause range anxiety? CPD believed there was another conversation to have. 

"We kept coming back to one point," said Gareth Jones, Non-Executive Director at CPD Bodies. "The Farizon SV is already an excellent van. It has the technology, the payload, the range and the driver comfort. How can we make it look even more desirable to tradespeople?"

"We wanted to create something that looked formidable. As exciting as it was practical. A van that people would be proud to be seen in, proud to park on the drive and then discover it also happens to be electric." 

Turning that vision into reality fell to CPD's Operations Director, David Maguire, together with specialist suppliers and production partners. 

Rather than creating an aggressive aftermarket conversion, the objective was to develop an OEM+ enhancement package that felt as though it had always belonged on the vehicle. 

A purpose for every part 

The enhancement package was designed as a complete visual statement rather than a collection of individual parts. The deeper front splitter gives the SV Sport a lower, more purposeful stance. Sculpted side skirts visually lengthen the profile, while the rear diffuser, roof spoiler and carefully selected 20-inch alloy wheels complete a design that is unmistakably more assertive without becoming over-styled. Inside, bespoke detailing reinforces the SV Sport identity, creating a cabin that feels every bit as special as the exterior.  

"The challenge wasn't to make it louder," said David Maguire, Operations Director at CPD. "It was to make people wonder whether Farizon had designed it that way from the outset." 

"Every decision we made had to earn its place. We wanted a stronger visual presence, but we also had to preserve the practicality, payload, driving characteristics and everyday usability that make the Farizon SV such a capable working vehicle." 

The result is a van that proves commercial vehicles don't have to choose between capability and character. 

Gareth concludes, “With our prototype model’s matte green wrap, it’s one mean looking motor!” 

A partnership that's evolving 

The SV Sport marks another milestone in CPD’s relationship with Farizon. Already an authorised conversion partner and the company's authorised dealer for North East England, CPD worked alongside the OEM to develop the concept into the first sport-inspired interpretation of the Farizon SV for the UK market. 

The project demonstrates how the partnership is evolving beyond vehicle conversions into collaborative product development, combining Farizon's advanced electric vehicle platform with CPD's design, engineering and commercial vehicle expertise. 

To coincide with the launch, CPD has produced a behind-the-scenes fireside chat, How We Turned Green Mean, exploring the thinking, engineering and craftsmanship behind the project.