Best electric vans 2024
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One thing is for certain about electric vans — they are here to stay. With ever-stricter emissions mandates and the sale of brand new petrol- and diesel-engined vans set to end by 2030, the choice of electric models continues to broaden.
Electric vans are improving with each generation as more advanced battery technology provides longer driving ranges, together with faster rates of charging.
There's a wide range of shapes and sizes available, from small vans through to those with a cargo capacity of up to 17 cubic metres. Whether you are looking to save money in terms of running costs or lower your emissions output, there’s an electric van for every need or purpose.
Here are the best electric vans on sale right now.
Best electric vans |
Ford E-Transit Custom
We had to wait a long time for the Ford E-Transit Custom but it was worth it, as the electric version of the UK’s best-selling medium van is a five-star winner. Unlike most of its rivals, the Ford E-Transit Custom is focused first and foremost on small business users and SMEs, with incentivised home chargers and a choice of power outputs, including a spicy MS-RT high performance version. Plus, due to it being co-developed with VW, it will share its drive system and much of its bodywork with the electric versions of the Volkswagen Transporter's replacement.
Mercedes eSprinter
Heavily revised in 2024 with a new 95kWh battery, the latest Mercedes eSprinter is the pick of the crop when you need to move big loads with zero emissions. The downsides are its high prices and that you’ll need a C1 licence to drive it, but nevertheless the latest version of the big Mercedes has moved the game on a long way.
Citroen e-Berlingo
The Citroen e-Berlingo has been the best-selling small electric van in the UK for some time and with the latest generation a great van has got even better. It will now cover more than 200 miles on a single charge and is compatible with CCS rapid charging. The almost identical Fiat E-Doblo, Peugeot E-Partner, Toyota Proace City Electric and Vauxhall Combo Electric are also brilliant, but the Citroen is the only one available with Advanced Comfort seats.
Vauxhall Vivaro Electric
The Vauxhall Vivaro Electric is one of the best medium vans to drive, with great performance and a range of up to 217 miles, making it appeal to longer-distance users. It also features a clever e-Power Take-Off for operating tools and equipment from its battery pack. It’s the UK’s best-selling electric van thanks to Vauxhall’s strong market presence, but the Citroen e-Dispatch, Fiat E-Scudo, Peugeot E-Expert and Toyota Proace Electric are essentially the same design and are equally capable.
Renault Kangoo E-Tech
Cheaper than it ever has been and with a much more inviting cabin, the latest-generation Renault Kangoo E-Tech is a great small electric van and is ideal if you don’t need to carry huge loads. Although its range and payload can’t match its Stellantis rivals led by the Citroen e-Berlingo, it’s still very capable and is extremely agile to drive. Note that the Kangoo E-Tech is also sold as the rebadged Nissan Townstar EV and — with further styling and engineering tweaks — the Mercedes eCitan.
Volkswagen ID.Buzz Cargo
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No commercial vehicle will give your company as positive an image as the Volkswagen ID.Buzz Cargo, which has redefined 'cool' in the electric van market. It’s smaller inside than it looks from the outside, but that’s the price you pay for a vehicle created with image ahead of functionality. Matters improve in the second half of 2024 when a longer wheelbase version that benefits from an enlarged cargo area goes on sale.
Maxus eDeliver 9
If value for money is a primary consideration for your business, then the Maxus eDeliver 9 can’t be beaten in terms of the amount of cargo volume on offer in a large van with electric power. It’s not as smart or as refined as other big vans, but it’s really not far behind and is surprisingly pleasant to drive, with a competitive driving range and flexible performance.
Peugeot E-Boxer
Built alongside the Citroen e-Relay, Fiat E-Ducato, Toyota Proace Max Electric and Vauxhall Movano Electric, the E-Boxer is the pick of the five thanks to Peugeot’s focus on growing electric van sales, but all are pretty comparable overall. The electric motors and batteries and excellent and there’s lots of in-cab tech, but the van's fundamental design is now showing its age.
Renault Master E-Tech
The latest Renault Master E-Tech is a critical part of the French manufacturer’s large van strategy, which is very much focused on heavy-duty users and converters. With a wide range of safety features and lots of advanced technology, its utilitarian nature doesn’t stop the electric Master from being one of the most sophisticated models in its class, although the same can be said of its Nissan Interstar EV sibling.
Maxus eDeliver 3
Much like the bigger eDeliver 9, the Maxus eDeliver 3 offers terrific value for money and a very smooth, responsive electric motor. It lacks a little refinement and the ride is very bouncy when unladen, but if you need a small electric van with a good mileage range — 213 miles on the WLTP cycle — at a more competitive price than its European rivals, the Chinese-built Maxus is hard to ignore.
