Whether you need a big payload or long driving range, electric vans are becoming more popular. The practicality of a van coupled to zero emissions and rapid charging make them ideal for all sorts of commercial needs. There’s a wide selection to choose from when buying on the new and used van market, so here are the best electric vans for your business.
Best Electric Vans 2024
- Citroen e-Berlingo (2021-)
- Fiat E-Ducato (2020-)
- Ford e-Transit (2023-)
- Maxus e Deliver 3 (2020-)
- Mercedes-Benz eVito (2020-)
- Renault Kangoo E-Tech (2021-)
- Renault Master E-Tech (2022-)
- Toyota Proace Electric (2021-)
- Vauxhall Vivaro-e (2020-)
- Volkswagen ID Buzz Cargo (2022-)
Citroen e-Berlingo (2021-)
Range: 171 miles
The Citroen e-Berlingo, along with its Peugeot e-Partner and Vauxhall Combo Electric cousins, are among the finest small electric vans on offer right now. They come with a 171-mile range and quick charging capability, so you won’t be hanging around waiting for long periods. They are also good to drive and feel more like an electric car than a van thanks to their smooth ride and decent refinement.
An 803kg maximum carrying capacity is bigger than many rivals and there’s up to 3.9-cubic metres of load volume in the cargo bay. With keen pricing on their side, the Citroen e-Berlingo and its relations make sound financial sense.
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Fiat E-Ducato (2020-)
Range: 88-175 miles
Out of all the large electric van choices, the Fiat E-Ducato noses ahead of most rivals like the Mercedes-Benz eSprinter and Renault Master E-Tech. It does it by offering a larger battery driving range coupled to a maximum payload that varies from 690kg all the way up to a massive 1,885kg. It also has a gross vehicle weight of 4,250kg, so it’s more than up to anything you ask of it.
As with Fiat Ducatos of the past, the E-Ducato is offered as a chassis cab, panel van and with two battery pack options. You can pick from 47- and 79kWh batteries, giving a WLTP range of up to 175 miles, and the 122bhp electric motor is smooth and quiet. Low running costs are another big tick for the Fiat. Can’t find a Fiat? Look for the Citroen e-Relay or Peugeot e-Boxer instead, as they’re identical underneath.
Ford e-Transit (2023-)
Range: 196 miles
For decades, the Ford Transit has been the default choice of van for British business, so much so that its very name has come to define this entire genre of vehicle. And that doesn’t look set to change any time soon, because the latest Ford e-Transit isn’t just the best large electric van out there, it’s the best large van full stop.
Not only is it available in a wide variety of specs, with varying choices in length, height, wheelbase, weight, payload, battery capacity and power output, it’s also the best vehicle of its type to drive thanks to class-leading comfort, refinement and agility, plus it has the most civilised-feeling interior. There’s simply nothing this van doesn’t do brilliantly, and that’s precisely what has made the Transit such a smash hit over the years.
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Maxus e Deliver 3 (2020-)
Range: 99-151 miles
Maxus is a name that won’t be familiar to car drivers, but for van customers it’s the latest name for what used to be LDV. The e Deliver 3 has been designed as an electric van from the outset, so it is lighter than many rivals and that means it can go further on the same amount of charge. The result is a range of between 99- and 151 miles on a single charge, and that’s better than any EV range for a plug-in hybrid alternative.
The Maxus also impresses with how it drives at higher speeds as well as in town. A small cargo space is a drawback, but it can carry up to 905kg, and the predicted range on the dial is accurate, so you don’t have to second guess when it needs to be recharged. Besides, if you need something bigger, you could always go for the eDeliver 9.
Mercedes-Benz eVito (2020-)
Range: 92-221 miles (depending on generation)
Mercedes’ eVito may not have the outright carrying capacity of its eSprinter big brother, but it’s still a superb choice and especially so if you choose it in minibus configuration. The hush of its electric motor and excellent noise insulation means passengers will enjoy a quiet journey, making it an ideal hotel shuttle bus or minicab.
If you pick the Tourer minibus option, Mercedes fits a bigger battery to the eVito and that allows for a driving range of up to 221 miles from the latest Tourer version, which is more than enough for most needs. There’s also a choice of two body lengths and the van version can hold up to 905kg.
Mercedes Vito Review
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Renault Kangoo E-Tech (2021-)
Range: 186 miles
The Renault Kangoo E-Tech, which was previously known as the ZE, is one of the best-selling commercial vehicles with a battery pack. Its compact size makes it ideal in cities, but it offers more payload space than the supermini Zoe ZE van. Depending on which Kangoo E-Tech you pick, it can carry up to 640kg, which should be more than sufficient for most business drivers’ needs.
The driving experience in the Kangoo E-Tech is good and it’s quiet at motorway speeds, while the single-charge range of 186 miles is reasonable for a van of its size.
Renault Master E-Tech (2022-)
Range: 126 miles
Renault’s Master is one of the best large vans you can buy and the all-electric E-Tech, or ZE as it used to be called, is a versatile zero emissions option. It can be ordered as a panel van, Luton, dropside, tipper, chassis cab, and with different body lengths and wheelbases. All of this makes it a superb workhorse and alternative to the likes of the Ford Transit.
Where the Master E-Tech falls short is its driving range of 126 miles on a single charge, which can be beaten by bigger-battery versions of rivals such as the Fiat e-Ducato – and that's a huge improvement on the previous model's 75 miles. If you can live with that, the Master offers anything from an 8.0-cubic metre load volume all the way to 13.0 cubic metres, and a payload ranging from 925kg to 1.425 tonnes.
Toyota Proace Electric (2021-)
Range: 142-205 miles
There’s not a great deal of choice when you pick the Toyota Proace Electric, though you can have the Toyota Proace City Electric as an alternative. The Japanese firm isn’t unduly bothered as you can always select from its near cousins, such as the Citroen e-Dispatch, Peugeot e-Expert, or Vauxhall Vivaro-e. Where Toyota scores over these commercial vehicles is its superb 10-year warranty. For business users, this gives enormous peace of mind.
Unlike some competitors, the Proace does have a choice of two battery pack sizes, offering driving ranges between 143- and 205 miles. Load space is decent, if not huge, and the Toyota delivers a driving experience similar to that of many electric cars thanks to its comfort and refinement.
Vauxhall Vivaro Electric (2020-)
Range: 142-205 miles
The Vivaro Electric (formerly called the Vivaro-e) from Vauxhall is part of a trinity of Stellantis-made mid-size vans that includes the Citroen e-Dispatch and Peugeot e-Expert. All three have a choice of two battery sizes, so you have a range of 143 miles or 205 miles depending on which you pick. They also offer rapid charging and each can carry a payload of up to 1,200kg.
In the real-world, the Vivaro Electric is simply one of the best electric vehicles of its type. Quiet, smooth, and easy to drive, the electric motor is ideally suited to the needs of its users and there are plenty of variants on offer with its body size. With low running costs, the Vauxhall and its French cousins show that an electric version can indeed replace the traditional diesel option.
Vauxhall Vivaro Review
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Volkswagen ID Buzz Cargo (2022-)
Range: 254 miles
The ID Buzz Cargo may not have the space or functionality of the bigger Transporter, but nothing else in Volkswagen’s van range - or anyone else’s, for that matter - can match the ID Buzz for style or character. There’s another problem with the VW ABT e-Transporter, too, and that’s its measly 82-miles range. Choosing the ID Buzz will mean you don’t have to visit a charger anywhere near as often thanks to its electric range of 254 miles, and it’s fast charging capabilities means you can get a 5% to 80% top-up in less than 30 minutes.
It’s not just the outside that’s stylish, either, because the cabin is just as funky and comes with a generous amount of standard equipment. However, do be aware of the ID Buzz’s high price, even if you can write this down and offset the VAT cost.
Volkswagen ID Buzz Review
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