By Tom Roberts - 12/07/23
The growing number of electric medium vans on the road is no surprise - manufacturers understand that the electric switchover is right around the corner. Vanarama Van Expert Tom Roberts takes a look at the best electric medium vans available in one convenient article.
There are so many benefits to using a medium sized electric vans, including the fact that they can often access car parks including multi-story car parks with height restrictions - something impossible in a large van. A medium electric van is also easier to park on a residential street or in a private driveway, when compared to a large van. I know they don’t sound like deal breakers, but these are two of the biggest reasons medium vans came into existence - big vans just aren’t easy to park or get into confined work environments.
Electrification has been relatively easy for medium vans too. They’re already big enough to be modified so they can carry battery packs. They also have a decent amount of space for an electric motor to take the place of a conventional fuel engine. That’s why the majority of electric medium vans are simply electric versions of existing medium vans, and not newly-designed vehicles. But which are the best of the bunch?
Vanarama’s Best Electric Medium Vans
Vauxhall Vivaro Electric / Citroen e-Dispatch / Peugeot e-Expert / Fiat E-Scudo / Toyota Proace Electric
We’ve put the electric Vivaro, Dispatch, Expert, Scudo, and Proace together because they’re very similar - they all share the same Stellantis group platform (including the Toyota, which is here due to a commercial agreement). You’ll find trim levels and specifications differ a little between them, but the body and electric drivetrains are the same.
A tip – don’t forget to compare the warranties because this is a place they differ wildly. The vans are fitted with a 136PS electric motor (which makes it pretty nippy) and there’s a choice of two battery packs. If you go for the larger 75kWh pack in your new van you’ll benefit from an official WLTP Combined range of up to 196 miles before you need to plug in. Putting paid to the myth that electric vans have a poor payload, these competent load carriers can take up to 1226kg, depending on the model you go for. In diesel form, these are incredibly popular vans, so it's no surprise that the electric versions have already won multiple awards.
Maxus eDeliver 3
It might not win many van beauty contests, but the Chinese-built Maxus eDeliver 3 is a great proposition for the electric medium van user. Making things comfortable in the cab, Maxus has included air conditioning, a reverse camera, rear parking sensors and cruise control all as standard. You’ll also find a 7-inch touchscreen to control multimedia (including the excellent Apple CarPlay and Android Auto smartphone integration) and Bluetooth functions, and heated seats together with a leather multi-function steering wheel.
But, at the business end, the eDeliver 3 lays down a gauntlet with a payload of up to 905kgs and a loadspace volume of 4.8 cubic metres. The 122hp electric motor is more than powerful enough for most, and if you opt for the larger 75kWh battery pack, the official combined cycle range between charges is 151 miles – more than enough for the vast majority of medium van drivers to do a days work without having to stop for a top up.
Mercedes-Benz eVito
If the three-pointed star combined with the heritage and quality behind it has drawn your attention to the Mercedes-Benz vans, then you’ll be happy to know that the eVito is possibly the smartest looking electric medium van on the market. It’s not just a looker though, this van is capable of hard work. It can carry up to 882kg, and as there’s a choice of two load lengths, you’ve up to 6.6 cubic metres of volume to play with. The latest version of the eVito has a very practical official range of 162 miles between charges (a major improvement on the originals 90-something miles), and 35 minutes on a public fast DC charger will get you back up to 80% battery charge. If you your new electric medium van to stand out from other electric medium vans, opt for the eVito in Premium spec and enjoy alloy wheels, metallic paint, painted bumpers and a chrome grill.
Renault Trafic E-Tech
At the time of writing it’s not quite available to order, but because Renault is another van manufacturer that has been instrumental in bringing electric vans to market it’s unfair to leave the Trafic E-Tech electric medium van out. We’ve not had full details yet, but what we can tell you is that the van will be offered in two lengths and two heights, giving a load volume of up to 8.9 cubic metres - that’s exactly the same as the diesel model. There’s a 90kW motor, and the official range between charges is expected to be a useful 149 miles. Payloads are estimated to be up to an excellent 1100kg. Please bear in mind that all of these numbers are provisional, as soon as we get further details on this van we’ll let you know.
Volkswagen ID Buzz Cargo
The Volkswagen ID Buzz Cargo van packs a 204PS electric motor allowing the van to accelerate from 0 to 62mph in just 10.2 seconds, so those that enjoy driving a van are unlikely to be disappointed. However, the fact that the official range between charges is an amazing 254 miles means that you’re unlikely to have to spend much time at public charge points during the working day either. Right… the payload of 592kg isn’t high, but as we think that it’s unlikely that the image-conscious van operator will want to put a pallet of bricks in the back of the ID Buzz Cargo, it’s probably not a factor that will put people off. There’s plenty of storage in the cab, and if you opt for the Commerce Plus model you’ll get a heated driver’s seat, air conditioning, a heated windscreen, satellite navigation, adaptive cruise control, rear view camera, front and rear parking sensors and various driver assistance and safety features. Aside from the payload, I’m sold!
Looking for something smaller or larger? See our best small electric vans and best large electric vans guides for more expert picks.
Medium Electric Van FAQs
Why Lease An Electric Medium Sized Van?
If you’re looking for a new hassle-free way of driving away in a brand new electric medium van, leasing could be the perfect option for you. You’ll pay affordable fixed monthly payments with no hidden costs or fees. Find out more about how van leasing works or find unbeatable prices with our van leasing deals.
Are Medium Electric Vans Reliable?
Electric vans are proving to be extremely reliable. The warranty lengths that manufacturers offer on their medium electric vans (with extended cover for the battery pack) demonstrates their confidence that your new medium electric van will be trouble-free for years.
Can I Tow With A Medium Electric Van?
Some electric vans are approved for towing, but others are not. Always check the vehicle specs before trying to tow. You can read more about towing with a van or check our van towing capacity chart for more info.
How Much Weight Can Medium Electric Vans Move?
Medium electric van payloads vary, often ranging between 800kg and 1200kg.
What Is The Standard Cargo Space Of A Medium Electric Van?
It varies and there’s not really a standard size, but a good example is the Mercedes-Benz eVito which has a load volume of up to 6.6 cubic metres, as do the largest Stellantis vans.
