2018 has seen its fair share of advances in the commercial van sector so far; from driverless vans in Texas to the announcement that the Michigan Business Development Program and Subaru Research and Development Inc have been awarded grants of $2.6 million from The Michigan Economic Development Corp.’s Michigan Strategic Fund board to expand their auto research operations in Metro Detroit, but what about electric vans in particular?
Several models are new on the global market this year, not all of which have made it to the UK as yet, but we do have a few strong contenders.
Nissan E-NV200
The Nissan E-NV200 (which gives an impressive 109hp) has built its success largely on that of the Leaf, and why not – the Leaf is a hugely popular car that gives Nissan the credibility it needs for the commercial sector.
The E-NV200 has been built for eco-performance plus practicality and was the bestselling electric van in Europe for both 2016 and 2017 – an impressive achievement when you look at the contenders on the market. The 2018 models have improved battery life on earlier models, which in turn has given the van the longest driving range of any electric van on the market at present. Nissan, have stated that this alone means the e-NV200 could easily cover the distance required for 40% of all daily van journeys in Europe.
Reviews do agree that this van is best for couriers who deliver in the same area regularly, as a full charge with a domestic 13-amp plug will take 21.5 hours. Less if you use a 32-amp wallbox
So what else is good about this van?
- 170-mile + city driving battery range; 124 miles for combined city and motorway driving
- Large – can take up to 2 euro pallets/770kg – exact dimensions are 2 m3. This is the same as the diesel version (the aptly named NV200)
- Rear opening doors
- Sliding side doors
- Hill start assist comes as standard
- Has been tested to the new WLTP efficiency standard
- Nippy to drive, although slower driving gives better battery performance
- Single-speed automatic transmission
- Light steering
Iveco Daily Electric
Iveco isn’t as well-known as some of the larger brands but the Daily Power Blue range of electric vehicles has been making a name for itself this year, winning the prestigious international van of the year 2018 award at Solutrans (the international trade show for the road transport industry).
Iveco have long been committed to sustainability and technology and this shows in the features across this range. The Daily Electric gives off zero emissions, inbuilt sat nav and can take up to 5.6 tonnes – not bad for a battery powered, smaller van. It was built with city driving in mind and comes with a fast-charge setting as standard as well as an extended range of 280 km (170 miles)
The design of this van has seen an upgrade this year, with 80% new body parts and styling including a new front end, revised rear section and a continuous glazed surface grille
So what else is good about this van?
- Detachable clipboard for use on the go
- Battery has been designed to cope in both extreme heat and extreme cold
- Fast charging mode, taking just 2 hours
- Payload of up to 1623kg (depending on size)
- Inbuilt TomTom
- Practical interior with cup holders, door pockets, overhead storage, USB / AUX in ports and two 12v connectors
- Centre seat folds down as an armrest
- Improved seating options
Renault Kangoo Van Z.E. 33
The Renault Kangoo again comes in strongly with a 170-mile battery range and upgraded battery pack, and to make life easier it also has an inbuilt, real time range calculator so you can keep a close eye on how much juice you have left (or indeed, how much you are recovering).
One of the biggest pluses about the Kangoo is the alarm system on board. This activates between 0.6 mph and 18.6 mph to let pedestrians know the van is moving, due to safety concerns about the silence of electric vehicles, especially in cities where there is so much background noise.
This van has been rewarded with many positive reviews for driver comfort across all 3 models – the standard, Maxi and Maxi Crew (5-seater). Extra padding means you don’t feel bumps and potholes as much as in earlier models, although of course the lack of engine noise can make rattles and creaks sound louder.
So what else is good about this van?
- Modern interior
- Built in TomTom
- Top speed of 81mph
- Can be topped up with 22 miles of range in an hour’s charge
- Cheaper than other models on the market
- Upgraded energy density system which has resulted in optimised battery performance
- Upgraded climate control system means the battery should remain optimised in cold weather
- Full charge in six hours when plugged into a 32A socket
There are also a number of up and coming electric vans soon to hit our streets, including the Mercedes Benz e-Vito and the VW electric camper van – yes, you read that right, the iconic VW camper is set to sally on forth into the 2020’s with an electric version (and rumour has it that this will also become a self-driving van by 2025). Watch this space….
