The Dongfeng KT5J, KT5L and KT5M are three electric truck variants on the same 4x2 rigid chassis, all using a 262 kWh CATL LFP pack and a 240 kW LvKong motor. They differ in GVW rating, real-world range and body fit, which is exactly what city delivery fleets argue about: payload versus daily kilometres. This comparison gives last-mile and mid-mile operators a side-by-side table and a clear rule for matching each model to a delivery profile before they place a FOB order between $46,000 and $65,000.
| Metric | KT5J | KT5L | KT5M |
|---|---|---|---|
| Configuration | 4x2 | 4x2 | 4x2 |
| Battery (CATL LFP) | 262 kWh | 262 kWh | 262 kWh |
| Motor (LvKong) | 240 kW | 240 kW | 240 kW |
| Range (loaded) | 240 km | 260 km | 250 km |
| GVW | 16 t | 18 t | 18 t |
| Body length | up to 6.5 m | up to 7.5 m | up to 7.5 m |
| DC charge 20-80% | 45 min | 48 min | 47 min |
| FOB price | $46,000-$60,000 | $50,000-$65,000 | $48,000-$62,000 |
All three share the cab, the e-axle and the 8-year / 4,500-cycle warranty, so a mixed fleet trains one driver group and stocks one parts bin. The differences are GVW headroom and the small range spread that comes from body weight and gearing.
The KT5J is the lightest at GVW 16 t and suits parcels, e-commerce and food distribution where cube matters more than tonnage. The KT5L and KT5M both reach GVW 18 t; the KT5L edges range to 260 km, the KT5M balances at 250 km with a slightly lower FOB floor. Because the pack is identical, range variance comes from body mass and tyre spec, not battery size, so spec the body light to keep kilometres.
| Delivery profile | Best model |
|---|---|
| Dense CBD parcels, 120-180 km/day, 8-12 t load | KT5J |
| Suburban mixed freight, 180-240 km/day, 12-16 t | KT5L |
| Grocery or beverage, 200-250 km/day, 14-18 t | KT5M |
| Multi-drop with tail-lift, 16-18 t | KT5M or KT5L |
FOB runs $46,000 to $60,000 for the KT5J, $50,000 to $65,000 for the KT5L and $48,000 to $62,000 for the KT5M. Energy cost is about $0.11 per km on grid power versus $0.32 per km for a diesel 4x2 of the same class, a saving near $15,000 a year at 70,000 km. Maintenance lands near $0.035 per km against $0.10 per km diesel, adding another $4,500 a year.
All three recharge 20-80 percent in 45-48 minutes on a 180 kW DC unit, or overnight on a 60 kW wallbox across an 8-hour window. With a 262 kWh pack returning from a 240 km day at 30 percent reserve, overnight demand is about 180 kWh per truck, easily served by a standard depot supply. Battery swap is available but rarely needed for city cycles under 300 km.
Thailand's Bangkok and Eastern Economic Corridor runs are dense, hot and increasingly low-emission zoned, which favours the lighter KT5J and KT5L for intown work and the KT5M for provincial loops. Review electric trucks in Thailand for BOI incentives and charger grants before ordering.
Datasheets for each chassis are on the model pages for the Dongfeng KT5J electric cargo truck, the Dongfeng KT5L electric cargo truck and the Dongfeng KT5M electric cargo truck, with body length and wheelbase options.
All three share a 4x2 day-cab with wheelbase options of 4.5 m, 5.0 m and 5.5 m, letting bodybuilders mount box, curtain-side, refrigerated, drop-side or tail-lift bodies from 4.5 m to 7.5 m. The KT5J at GVW 16 t suits a 6.5 m box up to 8 t payload; the KT5L and KT5M at GVW 18 t take a 7.5 m body up to 10 t payload. Because the e-axle is fixed, body weight is the only payload variable, so specify aluminium floors and lightweight panels to protect range. A 500 kg heavier body can cost 3-5 percent of range on a hilly suburban loop, which is why the KT5J wins cube-light parcel work.
A Bangkok operator running 12 KT5M trucks on 220 km daily loops installed six 120 kW DC wallboxes and a 500 kVA transformer. Overnight the fleet draws about 2,160 kWh (12 trucks x 180 kWh), costing about $216 a night at $0.10 per kWh, or $1.5 million over five years. The same diesels would burn about $3.4 million in fuel over the same distance, a $1.9 million saving that paid back the trucks and chargers inside 30 months. Peak shaving on the 500 kVA supply trimmed the demand charge another 15 percent. The operator standardised on the KT5M because its 18 t GVW covered the heaviest grocery runs while staying on the same 262 kWh pack as the lighter models.
| 5-year line (350,000 km) | KT5J | KT5L | KT5M |
|---|---|---|---|
| Energy | $38,500 | $38,500 | $38,500 |
| Maintenance | $12,250 | $12,250 | $12,250 |
| FOB (mid) | $53,000 | $57,500 | $55,000 |
| Resale yr5 (40%) | -$21,200 | -$23,000 | -$22,000 |
| Net 5-yr cost | Lowest | Mid | Low |
Energy and maintenance are identical across the three because the pack and motor are shared; the only real cost delta is FOB and the body. Choose the lightest model that meets your GVW, and spend the saved FOB on a second charger to lift uptime. A mixed fleet of KT5J and KT5M still trains one driver group and stocks one parts bin.
One driver group covers all three: the cabs, the regen paddle and the charger coupler are identical, so training time is the same as for a single model. Scheduled service is a 12-month or 60,000 km interval covering coolant, brake fluid, the 12V battery and a wheel-alignment check; there is no engine oil, no DPF, no turbo and no clutch to fail. Keep a shared consumables kit on site and the fleet never waits on freight for a routine service, which matters when a Thai holiday stretches the parts lead time.
Thailand's BOI scheme and EV board grants cut the effective FOB through import duty relief and charger subsidies in some provinces, which can move the KT5L under the KT5J list price in practice. Importers should price the incentive with the distributor before choosing the model, because the subsidy sometimes favours the higher-GVW unit and flips the price ladder. Review the market page for the current provincial list and fold it into the comparison above.
If the loop is under 180 km and the load under 12 t, the KT5J is the cheapest electric truck that does the job and frees FOB for a second charger. If the load reaches 16-18 t or the loop hits 240-260 km, the KT5L earns its small premium through range and GVW. The KT5M sits between on price with a balanced 250 km and is the safe default when routes vary day to day. No model is "best" in the abstract; the right pick is the lightest one your heaviest regular day does not exceed, which keeps energy per km and FOB both low and leaves headroom to add a fourth truck the month demand rises.
Order all three on one purchase order and the bodybuilder certifies a common rear frame, so the fleet keeps one parts bin and one driver group even with a mixed city fleet. That shared platform is why the KT5 family beats mixing brands across the same duty cycle, and why the price ladder above stays a tool, not a trap. Review the market page for the current Thai incentive before you lock the model, because the subsidy can flip which variant is cheapest on the day.
Ready to electrify your fleet? Contact Shaanxi Fenghan Trading — authorized Dongfeng EV truck exporter. WhatsApp: +86 153 1943 1311 | Email: sales@fenghan-trade.com | dongfengevtrucks.com
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