Electric Vans: How Far Can You Go?
Considering switching your van to an electric one but have a bit of 'range anxiety'? Well, you've come to the right place!
In this guide, we've got all the information to put your mind at rest - discover which electric van will get you where, plus everything else you need to know about electric vans and their range.
Who's making the switch to an electric van and why?
Although a few years behind the car market, there's been a revolution taking place in the van market. More and more businesses are turning to an all-electric fleet and who can blame them? From lower running costs to Government incentives, electric vans can make a real difference to how much you're spending to keep your business moving.
With manufacturers expanding their electric line-up every year, in addition to the UK growing the infrastructure to support EVs, owning an electric van is increasingly convenient and therefore appealing to a lot of businesses. But here's the real clincher: there's still a way to go for some vans, but generally the electric range on modern EVs has also never been better.
Should I go from 'glug' to plug-in electric vans?
Although it's true you won't get as far on a full charge as you would with a full tank, most ranges available with today's electric vans far surpass the miles covered in the average working day for many business types.
And even if you do need to factor in long-distance trips into your van's routine, rapid public charging stations make it quick and simple to add more juice on the go.
Take a look at the stated ranges that popular electric vans on the market today offer:
| Electric Van | Van Size | Range |
| Renault Zoe Van | Car-derived van | 245 miles WLTP |
| Renault Kangoo ZE 33 | Small van | 143 miles WLTP |
| Nissan e-NV200 40kWh | Small van | 124 miles WLTP |
| Citroen Berlingo Electric (old) | Small van | 106 miles NEDC |
| Peugeot Partner Electric (old) | Small van | 106 miles NEDC |
| Maxus eDeliver 3 | Small van | Up to 150 miles WLTP* |
| VW e-Caddy (cancelled for UK) | Small van | 160 miles NEDC |
| Citroen e-Berlingo (2021) | Small van | 171 miles WLTP |
| Peugeot e-Partner (2021) | Small van | 171 miles WLTP |
| Toyota Proace City electric (2021) | Small van | To be confirmed |
| Vauxhall Combo-e (2021) | Small van | 171 miles WLTP |
| Renault Kangoo E-Tech (2022) | Small van | 164 miles WLTP |
| Mercedes-Benz eVito | Medium van | 92 miles WLTP |
| VW e-Transporter | Medium van | 82 miles WLTP |
| Vauxhall Vivaro-e | Medium van | 143-205 miles WLTP* |
| Citroen e-Dispatch | Medium van | 148-211 miles WLTP* |
| Peugeot e-Expert | Medium van | 148-211 miles WLTP* |
| Toyota Proace Electric (2021) | Medium van | To be confirmed |
| Sokon / DFSK EC35 (TBC) | Medium van | 138 miles |
| Morris Commercial JE (2021) | Medium van | 200 miles (untested claim) |
| VW ID Buzz Cargo / ID.7 Cargo (2022) | Medium van | To be confirmed |
| Ford E-Transit Custom (2023) | Medium van | To be confirmed |
| Renault Master ZE | Large van | 124 miles WLTP |
| LDV EV80 | Large van | 127 miles NEDC |
| Mercedes-Benz eSprinter | Large van | 96 miles WLTP |
| Maxus eDeliver 9 (2021) | Large van | 146-184 miles WLTP* |
| VW e-Crafter (2021) | Large van | 68-71 miles WLTP |
| MAN eTGE (2021) | Large van | 68-71 miles WLTP |
| Ford E-Transit (2022) | Large van | 217 miles WLTP |
| Citroen e-Relay (2021) | Large van | 124-211 miles WLTP* |
| Peugeot e-Boxer (2021) | Large van | 124-211 miles WLTP* |
| Fiat E-Ducato (2021) | Large van | 78-148 miles WLTP* |
| Arrival electric van (2022) | Large van | 112-211 miles WLTP* |
* Varies with van and battery size, plus driving conditions and weight loaded in vehicle.
Some things to consider when switching to an electric van
Added Weight
Whilst the additional weight that comes with housing an electric battery isn't really an issue for smaller vans, it's more of a problem for larger vans.
Because they're slightly heavier, some of the larger electric vans out there do come with a lower range, which could be impacted further if the van is fully loaded.
Generally, the bigger the van, the lower the range. Just as you'd expect a smaller, lighter van to be nippier off the mark, it will also go further on one full charge. You can see the difference between the Volkswagen e-Transporter's 82 mile range, compared to the Renault Zoe Van's incredible 245 mile range!
Range Variance
The range of an electric van isn't always exactly the figure the manufacturer claims it to be - in reality, the electric range depends on a few factors.
Driving environment, payload weight, driving style and weather can all affect how far an electric van will go on one full charge. For instance, driving your electric van in either really hot or really cold weather (cold being the more common condition in the UK!) is something to consider. Extreme temperatures affect an electric van's battery, which in turn, reduces its range.
Just as your fuel would burn quicker from blasting the air-con in a conventional vehicle, it drains the battery quicker in an EV too. Luckily, many EV manufacturers are working to fix this. The Renault Kangoo ZE for instance now uses heat pump technology to reduce any disruption caused by challenging weather conditions.
Charging points
At this point in time, the amount of fuel-filling stations across the UK outnumbers the amount of electric charging stations there are. But as we move towards the Government's deadline to ban new petrol and diesel vehicle sales, plus the number of people making the switch increases, the infrastructure to support electric vehicles is catching up.
There are more than 30,000 charging points in the UK, with more being installed every day.
Also, with the ability to charge at home with a standard three pin-socket or have a dedicated charging point installed outside of any building you own, charging-up can still be convenient and hassle-free. There's even a Government Grant to help you cover the cost of installation.
Why come to Vansdirect for electric vans?
Here at Vansdirect, we have an excellent line-up of electric vans for you to choose from. We're more than happy to talk you through the models available and help you come to a decision based on your particular needs.
Even if you're still not sure about switching to an electric commercial vehicle option, we can show you a specific cost comparison between electric and conventional fuel, based on your business needs.
With fantastic finance options available too, from van leasing and contract hire to hire purchase, we offer you great flexibility. Contact us today for a free no no-obligation quote - our friendly team of experts are ready when you are.