Electric vans available in Australia in 2023

29 May, 2023 By: Byron Mathioudakis

For other electric vehicle categories, see SUV EVs, EV utes, Small  EV sedans, Mid-size EV sedans and Large EV sedans.

Peugeot e-Partner from $59,990

Renault was first with an electric van in Australia with the Kangoo ZE EV several years back, but archrival Peugeot’s e-Partner has stepped up with a compelling alternative.

Arriving locally to take on the next-gen Kangoo E-Tech due before the end of 2023, the e-Partner offers a clever and car-like two-seater front cabin, featuring an array of comfort and safety equipment.

Meanwhile, out back, payload is 800kg, braked towing capacity is just 750kg and load volume is 3.9 cubic metres.

Car-like to drive, the e-Partner sits on the acclaimed 308 hatchback’s modular platform, with a 100kW electric motor driving the front wheels. A 50kWh battery provides a modest 245km of range.

As with the related Peugeot e-2008 EV SUV, replenishing the battery from 10-80 per cent with a 50kW DC public charger requires around 45 minutes, or nearly eight hours to 100 per cent with an optional 7kW Wallbox and 24 hours via a household socket.

Renault Kangoo E-Tech from $60,000 (estimated)

The Renault Kangoo E-Tech is the brand’s next-gen EV van.

Due in late 2023, it kicks off with the L1 Compact Pro, measuring in at nearly 4.5 metres long. It includes a 608kg payload, a leading 1500kg braked towing capacity (750kg unbraked) and 3.3 cubic metre load volume.

Whether we also get the L2 Maxi Pro here, with a stretched body and wheelbase, remains to be seen. Payload increases to nearly 764kg while load volume is 4.2 cubic metres.

A 90kW/245Nm motor powered by an underfloor 45kWh battery drives the front wheels, resulting in a modest 285km range.

Plugging into a 50kW DC public charger will get the Renault from 10 to 80 per cent full in around 60 minutes, or nearly seven hours to 100 per cent with an optional 7kW Wallbox and 23 hours via a household socket.

Civilised, comfortable, spacious and functional inside, the Kangoo E-Tech reflects its maker’s long experience making compact vans.

Mercedes-Benz eVito and EQV vans from $89,353

Mercedes-Benz Vans has gone all-in with EVs.

Derived from the current (2014-vintage) V-Class, the eVito Van and eVito Tourer (from nearly $120,000) are commercial van and people-mover models respectively, while the EQV (from about $160,000) is a more-lavishly equipped version of the latter.

The eVito Tourer and EQV use a 150kW motor and 90kWh battery to power the front wheels.

Using a 50kW public DC fast charger, the 90kWh battery requires about 80 minutes to go from 10 to 80 per cent charge. A 100 per cent top-up with a 7kW Wallbox needs nearly 15 hours, or almost 48 hours with a regular home socket.

Meanwhile, the eVito commercial van employs an 85kW electric motor and 60kWh battery pack, for a WLTP range of 242km. The thinking here prioritises more-affordable pricing and quicker recharging. Charging times are about two-thirds those of the 90kWh battery.

The batteries are laid under the cabin floor to minimise interior-space interference.

The people movers provide standard eight-person or more-luxurious six-person seating configurations.

Ford E-Transit van from $104,990

The E-Transit is based on the big-body Transit Heavy and is initially only offered in the rear-wheel drive 420L long-wheelbase body style.

With 198kW, this is the most powerful Transit ever, and comes with a 68kWh battery pack slung underneath, so as not to impact carrying capacity.

To that end, there’s up to 11cubic metres of space in the mid-roof size and 12.4 cubic metres in $1500-extra high-roof versions, matching the regular Transit diesel equivalents. Gross vehicle mass of up to 4250kg is claimed, with a maximum payload of 1616kg.

New suspension is said to deliver improved steering, handling, control and ride comfort properties.

Find a 50kW-plus public charging station and the battery can be replenished from 10 to 80 per cent in about an hour, or to 100 per cent in under 12 hours with an optional 7kW Wallbox. Plugging in at home could take over 33 hours.

It’s not cheap, but with a 40 per cent reduction in service costs, the E-Transit can make a case for itself.

LDV eDeliver 9 van from under $116,537

The popular Deliver 9 from LDV of China gains the all-important ‘e’ prefix.

Available in three variants – a long-wheelbase mid-roof van, a long-wheelbase high-roof van and a cab-chassis – the vans use an 88kWh battery to power a front-mounted 150kW motor, for up to 280km of range. Top speed is limited to just 90km/h.

Note there is also a cab-chassis ute from $99,990, with a smaller, 65kWh battery, offering 150km of range.

Charging the 88kWh battery from a 10-80 per cent using a 50kW DC public outlet requires around 100 minutes, or for 100 per cent about 15 hours with an optional 7kW Wallbox. A regular home socket could take up to 50 hours.

Interior or cargo space has not been impacted in this van’s transition from diesel to electric, with 10.97 and 12.33 cubic metres of space offered in the mid and high-roof vans respectively. Payload is 1410kg for the mid-roof and 1350kg for the high-roof, while braked towing capacity is rated at 1500kg for all.

Electric range is quoted using the World harmonised Light vehicle Testing Procedure (WLTP), or otherwise are manufacturers’ claims.