Battle of the electric vans kicks off with some bargains

2026 is shaping up to be the year of the electric van in Australia.

Several new models have already been confirmed, starting from under $50,000, creating pricing that is at – or near ­­–parity with many internal combustion engine (ICE) alternatives.

Coming hot on the heels of the coming wave of plug-in hybrid electric vehicle (PHEV) utes, it heralds the big shift towards electrification within the commercial-vehicle industry, driven by high fuel prices and increasing pressure to ‘green up’ fleet vehicles across government and businesses.

And why not? EV vans are uniquely suited to battery electric powertrain applications, from their massive cargo areas providing ample, non-intrusive space for battery packs of all sizes, to usage patterns centralised to mostly urban short-journey runs.

Until recently, most EV vans started upwards of $70,000 plus, with European medium-sized models exceeding $90,000 once all costs were included.

But that’s all about to change. Here are the latest.

LDV eDeliver 5 from $47,990 drive-away*

Chinese carmaker LDV (part of the SAIC group that also owns MG) has just released special low-introductory pricing for the new eDeliver 5.

Starting from $47,990 drive-away for ABN holders, the medium-sized electric van is currently the cheapest in Australia by some margin. The non-ABN price is from $52,621 drive-away.

Cheaper than the smaller base-grade petrol-powered Volkswagen Caddy, this buys you a short-wheelbase, low-roof van with 6.6 cubic metres of cargo space, while it’s a $5000 jump to a long-wheelbase version with 7.5m3 and then another $2000 for the latter’s high-roof upgrade with 8.7m3.

These are pure workhorse van propositions, and sit above the considerably larger eDeliver 7 models that currently retail from around $70,000.

Under the bonnet is a 120kW/420Nm electric motor, driving the front wheels. A 64kWh battery pack provides WLTP range. That descends from 335km to 321km to 301km as the van dimensions grow respectively.

A DC fast charger can replenish the battery from 20 to 80 per cent in under 40 minutes. It also brings vehicle-to-load (V2L) charging for tools and appliances on the go.

The LDV importer says to expect price rises from August, as these introductory offers are meant to establish the eDeliver 5 against the in-coming EV vans from Farizon and Kia.

* with ABN

(Geely) Farizon V7E from $49,990 drive-away

Geely commercial vehicle arm Farizon is distributed in Australia by Jameel Motors, a separate organisation that is still struggling to find its feet with the large EV Super Van from $71,490.

That may change with the smaller V7E announced from a far-keener $49,990 drive-away – and that’s for non-ABN holders with no looming end-date, unlike the e-Deliver 5.

Before you get too excited, that is for the 50kWh standard battery-pack size, and that comes with a WLTP rating of 240km. The grade is aimed at low-distance, high-frequency, stop/start, heavy-traffic big-city conditions. Cargo volume is 6.95m3.

Another $4000 buys the larger-battery 66kWh version, upping the distance it can travel to a handier 329km WLTP. Topping up both V7Es from 20-80 per cent requires about 35 minutes using a DC fast-charging outlet.

As with the e-Deliver 5, an electric motor drives the front wheels, though in this case it offers 110kW of power and 230Nm of torque.

Also made in China, the V7E is a stylish medium-sized van targeting the premium smaller electric vans from France – namely the Renault Kangoo E Tech from $44,990 before on-road costs and Peugeot E Partner that costs $15,000 more.

Kia PV5 Cargo from $55,990 before on-road costs

Not to be outdone, EV experts Kia is about to pitch the PV5 Cargo in Australia from $55,990 plus on-road costs.

While this is more expensive than the LDV and Farizon, the thinking here is premium engineering for a non-premium price tag. A far cry from the Korean brand’s crude Pregio van of nearly 25 years ago.

Underneath the PV5 Cargo is a front-mounted 120kW/250Nm electric motor, driving the front wheels. A big 71.2kWh battery pack offers a WLTP range of an impressive 416km, while a 20-80 per-cent top-up needs around half an hour using a 150kW DC outlet.

On the other hand, the PV5 Cargo’s load capacity is smaller than its Chinese rivals, with 4.0m3 offered in the standard L1H1 model, raising to 5.2m3 in the high roof (L2H2). Kia counters this by saying this is ideal in areas with limited space and tight parking spots.

Already scoring a European van-of-the-year award, this all-electric mid-sized van ushers in the Hyundai Motor Group’s next-generation E-GMP.S PBV (Platform Beyond Vehicle) architecture.

Promising refinement and dynamic driving prowess, there will also be a three-row passenger-vehicle model with up-to-date convenience and safety technologies.

As such, the PV5 EV van is also attempting to lure consumers from the much-larger and more-sophisticated Ford E-Transit Custom from $77,890, retro-themed VW ID.Buzz Cargo from $69,990, VW e-Transporter from $83,590 and Mercedes-Benz eVito from $98,951.

Finally, this is the only EV van listed here that has undergone extensive Australian-road handling and ride tuning.