Electric Van Guide

The Citroen Berlingo Electric is available in both short (3.3 cubic metres) and long wheelbase (3.7 cubic metres) forms, offering maximum load lengths of 1,800mm and 2,050mm respectively. The 106-mile range is the lowest of any electric small van, although it is very competitively priced at £22,022.80 plus VAT after the Plug-In Vehicle Grant.

Replacing the long running classic Citroen Berlingo is the all new electric ë-Berlingo Van, think of it as a ‘second generation’ electric van and it has a very practical range of up to 171 miles. It’s powered by a 100kW (136hp) electric motor and a 50kWh battery pack, enhanced with up to 100kW rapid charging allowing the vehicle to be recharged to 80% in just 30 minutes. The electric van has load volumes of up to 4.4m³ and a maximum payload of up to 800kg, and is available with a choice of three configurations and two trim levels (in the UK). New ë-Berlingo Van will be available in UK dealerships during Q4 2021.

Perhaps one of the key points of the all-new Citroën ë-Dispatch is that it offer basically the same payloads and loadspace as its diesel equivalent meaning there’s no need to compromise on the load volumes up to 6.6 m³ and payloads up to 1,262 kg. There are three lengths to choose from XS, 4.60 m long –has a 50 kWh battery which is unique in this segment, the medium wheelbase 4.95m long is available with 50 kWh or 75 kWh battery and finally the . long wheelbase 5.30 m long with a 75 kWh battery. There’s a choice of two operating ranges up to 148 miles on the WLTP cycle with a 50 kWh battery and up to 211 miles on the WLTP cycle with a 75 kWh battery. The warranty period for the battery is eight years or 100,000 miles for up to 70% of battery capacity (battery capacity certification at each service).

The Fiat E-Ducato has two battery sizes – 47kWh or 79kWh and both are married to a 90kW motor providing 280Nm of torque, the 47kWh battery provides a range of up to 146 miles and takes just 2 hours and 25 minutes to charge. The 79kWh battery provides a longer range of up to 230 miles and takes 4 hours to charge from zero to 100 per cent and is also available with AC or DC charging capability. Just like its diesel equivalent the E-Ducato offers loadspace volumes between 10m³ to 17m³ and payloads of up to 1885kgs on the higher gross vehicle weight models dependent on whether its a van, chassis cab and passenger configurations

Iveco was one of the early pioneers of the electric van segment and has been producing an electric version of the Daily since 2010, which originally came with a 21kWh battery. Since then, Iveco’s electric capabilities have gone from strength-the-strength and the latest version has a capacity of 28.2kWh, but you are able to have up to three batteries.

The Maxus E Deliver 3 is one new arrival that will have Nissan quaking as the little Chinese van may knock the eNV200 off the top spot for European electric van sales. With a range of up to 200 miles, up to 6 cubic metres of load volume and payloads of up to one tonne, the E Deliver 3 certainly makes the electric van proposition a lot more credible.

The Maxus E Deliver 9 is the upcoming large electric van from SAIC (Shanghai Automotive Industry Corporation), brought to the UK by the Dublin-based importer Harris Group. Based on the existing platform, the Chinese-built van obliterates its European counterparts (like the eSprinter and eCrafter) for productivity, with an impressive 161-mile range and a 73kWh battery.

The LDV EV80 offers the longest range of any large electric LCV at 127 miles and is available as both a panel van and chassis cab. LDV’s parent company, SAIC, is taking the lead on electric vehicles in China, and its 56kWh battery pack is one of the largest of any van, but it’s still moderately priced at £42,000 plus VAT after the PIVG.

Daimler has been experimenting with electric vans for decades, but it looks set to intensify next year with the rollout of the new eSprinter and eVito. The Mercedes-Benz eSprinter comes with the choice of a three- or four-battery pack option, corresponding to capacities of 41.4kWh and 55.2kWh respectively

The Mercedes-Benz eVito uses the same 84kW electric motor as its larger sibling, however, is only available with three battery packs (the eSprinter has the option of an extra pack). The eVito is available in both long and extra-long wheelbase forms (load volumes of 6.0 and 6.6 cubic metres) and a payload of up to 1,073kg.

The Nissan eNV200 is the UK’s and Europe’s best-selling electric van, thanks to its low asking price (starting as low as £19,116 plus VAT) and excellent range (174 miles). The eNV200 was upgraded in 2018, to a new 40kWh battery and an 80kW (109hp) electric motor.

As with the Citroen Berlingo Electric, the electric version of the Peugeot Partner is based on the previous generation model, although Peugeot is reassuring customers that there is enough supply to meet demand until electric versions go into production in late 2019.

The all new Peugeot e-Partner features a 50kWh lithium-ion battery connected to a 100kW (136hp) electric motor and is capable of maximum speeds of up to 80 mph with a maximum torque of 260 Nm. It can also reach up to 171 miles / 275km from a single charge under WLTP testing and has two types of on-board chargers, a 7.4 kW single-phase charger as standard and an optional 11 kW three-phase charger. The e-Partner can achieve full power in as little as five hours through an 11 kW Wall Box, or an 80% charge in just 30 minutes via a 100kW DC rapid charger. Similar to its diesel equivalent the all new Peugeot e-Partner has a maximum load capacity of up to 4.4m³ and a maximum payload of up to 800kg, and towing capacity up to 750kg. Two wheelbase versions are available, with a ‘Standard’ variant at 4.40m and ‘Long’ with 4.75m.

The new all Peugeot e-Expert features a 136hp electric motor and has the option of either a 50kWh battery providing a maximum range of up to 148 miles under WLTP tests and a the larger 75kWh battery which extends the range up to 211 miles. Standard wheelbase versions are available with 50kWh and 75kWh batteries, while Compact models come exclusively with the 50kWh unit and Long exclusively with the 75kWh unit. It has a maximum payload of between 1,001kg to 1,226kg, depending on the trim and spec chosen, with 50kWh models featuring the option to increase the maximum payload by an additional 225kg. Compact wheelbase models come with a 4.6m³ load space, extending to 5.3m³ for Standard versions and 6.1m³ in Long wheelbase models and has three trim levels.

After the eNV200, the Renault Kangoo ZE is the second-best selling electric van in Europe. Like its Nissan-badged sibling, the Kangoo ZE was upgraded last year with a 33kWh battery; increasing the range to 170 miles. Renault list the Kangoo ZE for less than £14,119 plus VAT, if you choose to rent the battery from £50 per month.

The Renault Master ZE officially hit the UK marketplace in November 2018 and is available in a choice of three wheelbases and two roof heights. The Master uses the same 33kWh battery pack as the Kangoo ZE, but due to its heavy chassis and more powerful 75hp motor, means the range is more restricted at 124 miles.

The Vauxhall Vivaro-E is the upcoming medium sector fully electric van from this PSA Group company and will be available to order from June this year making this the first factory built electric van for the company.

The Volkswagen eCrafter was announced at the 2016 IAA Show, and it finally hit the market this year. While large electric vans tend to compromise on either performance, range or productivity, the eCrafter offers a powerful output (134hp/290Nm), a good payload (1,750kg) and a modest range (up to 107 miles).