Obviously, we think electric vans are the business. They can save you a fortune in diesel and mean you will never have to visit a petrol station again – unless you want a pasty at lunchtime or need to use the lav.
They are far more refined and easier to drive than a clattery diesel and the payloads are usually the same. There is a huge choice of battery options, body types and conversions so you can find one that suits your business needs. Prices are falling too, and there are government grants to make them even more affordable.
It’s not just the fuel which costs less – servicing is less expensive and you won’t face the notorious wet belt or emissions equipment issues which have blighted recent diesel vans.
Just as with the car market, there are several newcomers from China who aim to shake things up – and the established brands are responding with new models such as the Transit City designed to compete on cost. Others are saving money on R&D by sharing products and rebadging.
The prices listed here are the official recommended costs, but there are always deals to be done, especially if you are leasing. Check out the latest deals from our preferred partner at Vanaways.
These are the best electric vans on sale right now.
1. Kia PV5
Price: from £27,355
Kia’s PV5 is a big deal because it was designed from the ground up to be an electric van – there is no diesel version. This means fewer compromises and makes the PV5 seriously competitive.
Because Kia is taking the van market seriously, it also means there will eventually be all sorts of different versions and factory-built special conversions.
The cheapest short wheelbase version (or L1/H1 in van speak) costs from £27,355 yet offers a decent four cubic metres of space inside and 800kg payload. There’s a choice of 51.5kWh or 71.2kWh batteries. The range is up to 258 miles.
Other big selling points are the funky, modern looks and Kia’s seven year warranty.
2. Renault Master E-Tech
Price: £52,115
The last generation of Renault Master E-Tech was a bit of a joke, but this latest version has taken a massive leap forward and is now the best on the large e-vans.
That’s partly because of its range, which at 285 miles is long enough for almost any business. This is possible thanks to to the large 87kWh battery, but the Master also has energy saving tech including clever aerodynamics to make the most of every watt.
As you’d expect from such a big van, the Master also offers impressive load space, with capacities of up to 14.8 cubic metres depending on body configuration. It’s available as a traditional panel van in long, medium, short, high and low variants, or as a chassis cab for conversion. The payload varies between versions too, with the smallest being able to carry more weight, but selected models offer figures approaching 1,500kg.
It also offers excellent dynamics and refinement compared to a diesel, and has one of the most practical cabins in the business.
3. Volkswagen E-Transporter
Price: £41,965
We’ll let you in to a little secret – the E-Transporter is identical in most of the crucial ways to the Ford E-Transit, as a result of the corporate wranglings between the two companies. That has been seriously controversial among Volkswagen fans – as the two have always been fierce competitors and the owners can get quite tribal.
But generally it’s a good thing where the electric version is concerned. As you’d expect it gets the same 71kWh battery and rear mounted motor producing 218hp, giving a range of 232 miles. The payload has slight variations depending on the spec, but is over the crucial 1,000kg mark.
It is also great to drive and offers a decent amount of load space and a 2,300kg towing capacity.
The differences with the Transit are more nuanced, with tweaks to the interior, infotainment software and specifications. It has a longer warranty too, but does look more and looks cheaper before the specifications are taken into account.
Which you choose will largely depend on your brand preference and the deal you are offered, but for us the VW edges ahead.
4. Ford E-Transit Custom
Price: £43,630
The Transit Custom is Britian’s most popular commercial vehicle, so the electric version is big news.
Its 71kWh battery offers an official range of 231 miles, and it’s as good to drive as you’d expect from a Transit. As Nicola’s video proved, the interior also offers plenty of space for burgers.
There is even a twin motor version to give the E-Transit all-wheel drive for the first time – a useful addition if you need extra traction or power. It adds an electric drive unit for the front wheels and gives it more torque than a V6 Ranger. There are even sporty versions for businesses who like to make the most of their tax allowances.
Fleet managers will also love the clever software that keeps an eye on the van and increases productivity.
5. Renault Trafic E-Tech
Price: £38,000
First – a little disclaimer from us, as at the time of typing we haven’t driven the new Trafic E-Tech yet. But we’ve looked at the specs and it looks like it could be a real contender.
It has been developed as a new electric-first van, with a focus on efficiency, payload and rapid charging. That means it has an 800v architecture – just like the tech found in a Porsche Taycan. In the Trafic it is designed to make the van super efficient and have ultra-fast charging, so it will cover a claimed 292 miles with the bigger 81kWh battery fitted and recharge to 80% in 22 minutes. That’s 60 miles more than the Transit and 12 minutes quicker.
The payload of 1,300kg beats the Tranny too, but it sacrifices a cubic metre of loadspace. It’s going to be an interesting test when we finally get to try it – especially if we throw the Kia in the mix.
6. Ford E-Transit
Price: £49,545
The number of vans bearing the Transit name can be quite bewildering, but you can understand why Ford wants to make the most of the best-known brand in the business.
The E-Transit is the biggest of the lot, and although it is starting to look dated next to rivals it is still a competitive proposition.
You can have it in three lengths and two heights, including a bare chassis for sticking specialist equipment or box bodies on to, or there’s double-cab set up for carrying up to seven people plus cargo.
The payload is up to 1,649kg on the smallest version, while the most spacious body shape can carry 15.1m3. That’s huge.
It’s powered by a 68 kWh usable battery giving a range of up to 249 miles depending on the body style. It also has rapid DC charging, which means a 10–80% top up takes approximately 28 min. Like other Transits, it also has the clever Pro Power Onboard as an option, which can deliver 240v power direct from the traction battery to power tools and chargers on-site or between jobs.
7. Volkswagen ID.Buzz
Price: £29,995
Like a lot of businesses, we initially loved the Volkswagen ID.Buzz mainly because of its looks and car-like driving dynamics. We partially ignored the fact it was a bit small and couldn’t lug heavy loads. Oh, and the range was a bit limited too. And the software was rubbish. And it was a bit pricey.
Thankfully the Buzz has evolved and it now makes a lot more sense even when your head is making the decisions. The battery has got fractionally smaller but more sophisticated chemistry means it gets an extra 17 miles of WLTP range, taking the total to 218 miles. It also gets a power boost to 190hp and the price is cut to £29,995 before VAT - a drop of £5,655 compared to the outgoing 59kWh model.
There is also a new LWB version which increases the load compartment volume by half a cubic metre to 4.4. The sliding doors are 190mm wider than the standard Buzz, allowing a full-size pallet to be slotted in.
It means the Buzz is worth talking about again, as it’s not just a pretty face.
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8. Vauxhall Vivaro Electric (and family)
Price: £36,105
Right – let’s get this straight from the start. This van is available as the Vivaro, but also the Citroën ë-Dispatch, Peugeot e-Expert, Fiat E-Scudo and Toyota Proace Electric. While the specs, trims and front grilles might have detail changes, they are all the same underneath and the best deals will largely depend on which brand needs to hit its sales targets that quarter.
But which ever one you choose, it will be a competent van with lots of choice of configurations and a decent range – up to 231 miles in the larger battery version.
The electric version has exactly the same load volume as the diesel Vivaros, while the payload is between 987kg and 1,226kg depending on the battery and body type.
The load volume depends on the length of the van you order and if you want seats in the back too, but reckon on 5.2 m3 for the L1 version and up to 6.6m3 for the longer wheelbase model.
It looks a little old compared to fresh faced rivals, but is well worth a look if the price is right.
9. Ford E-Transit Courier
Price: £28,817 (plus VAT)
Yes, it’s another Transit. But we won’t apologise for including it, as the Courier is a brilliant electric van. It shares a lot of its hardware with the Puma E-Gen, which means it has car-like dynamics and is easy to drive, especially in town where its compact dimensions and tight turning circle come into their own. This makes it ideal for urban deliveries and small trades.
The maximum payload is 700kg and the Courier can carry two Euro pallets, up to a load volume of 2.9m3. That’s not huge, but should be enough for many businesses.
There’s a 43 kWh battery giving a range of around 181 miles on a full charge. It will take a 100 kW DC fast charge, so a 10–80% top up takes around 23 min.
Bear in mind that the E-Transit Courier is eligible for the Government’s plug-in van grant to help with the purchase cost, but only at the lower £2,500 rate.
Click here to talk to a Ford dealer about the new Ford Transit City
10. Farizon SV
Price: £44,000
The only Chinese-made van sneaks into the bottom of this list, but we suspect it won’t be long before these newer brands start to really dominate. The Farizon SV is a good example of why.
The Ford E-Transit rival is made by a company which is part of the huge Geely Group, and is designed as a purpose-built electric van rather than a diesel van converted to electric power.
Its biggest selling points are impressive payload, a choice of three battery sizes, up to 13m³ of load space and a competitive warranty. Farizon has worked hard to make sure it can get serviced efficiently too, using mobile operators.
It can carry up to 1,350kg and the biggest L3H3 has a 13m3 payload. There are three battery options: 67,83 and 106kWh with a range of between 177 and 247 miles.
It’s not as cheap as you might think though - prices start at £44,000 with a four-year/120,000-mile vehicle warranty.
