With a growing number brands offering decent electric options for vans, making the switch to a fully electric vehicle for your company is now a viable option. Whether you are transporting people or goods, a sole trader or running a fleet of vehicles, moving to electric is a good way to lower costs and reduce the carbon footprint of your business.
When deciding which electric van to choose one thing to consider is how much it would cost to charge. Below we’ve listed the most energy efficient electric vans – and therefore cheapest to run – that are currently on the market in 2023*.
The most efficient electric van on the market currently is the Citroen eBerlingo M – an ideal choice for those wanting to reduce their carbon footprint without sacrificing performance or functionality.
With an efficiency of 356 wh/mi, a 50 mile journey would cost £6.05 of charge based on the current average rate of 34 pence per kWh. Using a 7kW fast charger, this would take 2.5 hours or 50 minutes using a 22kW rapid charger.
This van is powered by a 50 kWh battery pack that provides up to 171 miles of range on a single charge, making it suitable for both inner city driving as well as longer distances. It can accelerate from 0 to 62 mph in 11.2 seconds, which is fairly impressive for a van of this size.
The e-Berlingo M also has a spacious interior that can accommodate up to five passengers or up to 3,800 litres of cargo, depending on the configuration. It comes with a variety of features such as air conditioning, a touchscreen infotainment system, and a rearview camera to make your driving experience more comfortable and convenient.
Keeping in the Citroen e-Berlingo range, the XL model is the second most efficient electric van on the market currently – at 370 wh/mi. Joining the e-Berlingo are the Vauxhall Combo e-Life and Peugeot eRifter ranges.
It would cost around £6.30 to charge these vans to give 50 miles of range.
The Peugeot e-Rifter Long 50 kWh, Citroen e-Berlingo XL 50 kWh, and Vauxhall Combo e-Life XL 50 kWh all share the same platform and drivetrain. These models offer spacious interiors with room for up to seven passengers and a generous cargo area. They also share the same 50 kWh battery, which provides a range of up to 174 miles on a single charge.
The Peugeot e-Rifter Standard 50 kWh and Vauxhall Combo e-Life 50 kWh are also based on the same platform and drivetrain but have slightly shorter ranges of up to 168 miles on a single charge.
In terms of performance, all of these models have a top speed of 83 mph and can accelerate from 0 to 62 mph in around 11 seconds.
The Volkswagen ID Buzz Pro is third on the list with an efficiency of 376 wh/mi, which would cost an average of £6.39 for 50 miles of range.
Made entirely from recycled materials, this eye-catching van won the Best Van Based MPV in the 2023 What Car! Van and Commercial Vehicle Awards as well the best designed car of the year in the Motor Awards 2022.
The ID. Buzz Pro is a spacious and versatile van that can seat up to eight passengers. Its flexible seating and cargo configurations make it an excellent choice for businesses as well as large families. The van’s interior is equipped with modern features such as a digital cockpit, a large touchscreen display, and advanced driver assistance systems.
The ID. Buzz Pro is powered by a 111 kWh battery that will offer a range of up to 263 miles on a single charge. The electric motor can produce 201 horsepower, providing plenty of power for hauling goods or passengers.
It’s also equipped with Volkswagen’s latest technology, including connectivity features that allow drivers to remotely access the vehicle’s functions using a smartphone app and is capable of autonomous driving, with Level 4 autonomy expected to be available in the future.
In joint fourth place we have the Citroen Tourer and Vauxhall Vivaro-e range as well as the Standard Peugeot e-Traveller. All five vans have an efficiency of 403 wh/mi and offer a similar range of around 143 miles on a single charge.
It would cost an average of £6.85 worth of charge for 50 miles of range.
All built on the same platform, co-developed by PSA and Toyota each have very similar specs – including an electric motor that produces 134 horsepower (100 kW) and 192 lb-ft (260 Nm) of torque. The Vauxhall Vivaro-e Life Elite M has a few additional features that set it apart from the Combi M, including a panoramic roof, a 7-inch touchscreen, and a 180-degree rear view camera.
In 5th place we have the Maxus Mifa 9 – a luxurious minivan with an efficiency of 419 wh/mi.
For 50 miles of range, it would cost an average of £7.12 to charge. For this distance, it would take 3 hours to charge using a 7kW charger and under an hour using a 22kW rapid charger.
The MIFA 9 is a powerful and spacious van – accommodating up to 9 passengers, it is equipped with a 90 kW electric motor that delivers a maximum torque of 310 Nm. It has a top speed of 130 km/h (81 mph)
A good option for those looking for a luxurious electric vehicle for private hire – the Maxus MIFA has an opulent design including LED cabin lighting and features a touchscreen infotainment system with Bluetooth connectivity.
*As listed in the EV Database.
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