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After small and compact cars as well as SUVs, electric motors are now also being used more and more frequently in vans.
Even if the category has lost market share compared to SUVs in recent years, vans offer more variability and space, regardless of whether they are small or large.
They also cost less than comparable SUVs and are therefore popular with families and companies.
In 2021, several manufacturers will start an e-offensive for vans: Citroën e-Jumpy, Fiat E-Ducato, Mercedes eSprinter, EQV and eVito, Nissan e-NV200 Evalia, Opel Vivaro-e and Zafira e-Life, Peugeot E-Traveler and E-Expert, Renault Master ZE and Kangoo ZE, Toyota Proace City Electric or VW eCrafter, to name a few.
Sales of electric vans increased last year.
“Mercedes EQV and Opel Zafira e-Life have met growing demand.
In the fourth quarter of 2020, manufacturers in Germany sold around 1,700 electric vans, ”says Steffen Stumpp from the Berylls strategy consultant.
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Sales will continue to rise in the current year as well.
The buyers include families who use vans as “family taxis”, as well as commercial customers such as parcel delivery companies and craft businesses.
Buying barriers with e-vans
"Depending on the model and size, vans score with plenty of space and the option of mounting up to three child seats next to each other on the rear bench", says Steffen Stumpp.
Models currently on offer only offer a maximum range of around 300 kilometers, but that's enough for everyday needs.
They all offer almost silent and locally emission-free driving.
Disadvantage: They cost more than their comparable combustion engines.
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In addition to the costs, Philipp Meier sees the limited top speed and the few quick charging options as possible obstacles to buying.
"While the question of speed will be of secondary importance for many city dwellers, range and fast charging options affect most drivers of e-cars," says the editor for test and technology from Auto Club Europa (ACE).
Go with the flow?
Well, at least driving with electricity is the order of the day if you buy a family van like the Mercedes-Benz EQV
Source: dpa-tmn
Jens Dralle also confirms this and is currently rather critical of the range of electric vans and buses for private individuals.
Vans and minibuses are often bought by families as their first car so that they can take longer journeys such as a weekend trip or a vacation trip, says the head of testing for the magazine “Auto, Motor und Sport”.
"Without an intermediate stop and fast charging option, the charging breaks and thus the journeys will be very long."
E-vans for business people
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The situation is different for tradespeople who primarily use their vehicle in the city so that they can drive a limited radius and always charge their vehicles in the evening.
What is important is how the cars show themselves in real operation.
In a test of an e-van, for example, the range was only 220 kilometers instead of the specified 329 kilometers.
Charging with a 22 kW wallbox without quick charging took around seven hours.
Another van had a quick charge option, but at around 72,000 euros it cost around 20,000 euros more than a comparable sister model with a diesel engine.
Small operating radius and with a charging station in operation: electric vehicles such as the Citroën e-Jumpy can be useful for commercial customers
Source: dpa-tmn
There are also other disadvantages: "Anyone who wants to use an electric car as a towing vehicle for a team will also have problems charging at public charging stations - if a trailer coupling can be fitted at all," says Jens Dralle.
“Only in rare cases can the charging point be approached from the side like at a normal petrol station.
In addition, the range is further reduced when towing a trailer. "
Test drive electric buses extensively
Philipp Meier advises testing the cars in question as intensively as possible.
Prospective buyers should pay attention to the battery capacity and choose the size that they really need.
“How does the car behave in real operation, how much electricity does it consume and how far does it go with one battery charge?
Your own experience is always the best recommendation to buy, ”says Meier.
“To do this, there should be a fast charging option with at least 50 kW.
It is important that the battery can be recharged to 80 percent within 45 minutes, ”explains Steffen Stumpp.
This is the only way for owners to avoid hours of charging pauses on longer tours.
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The future charging option is also important, ideally either at home or at work.
The installation of a wallbox is also part of the purchase of an e-car.
With a wallbox with at least 11 kW, not only can the battery be charged quickly, but the car can also be preconditioned.
Anyone who buys an electric van like the Peugeot e-Expert should also think about a charging station at home
Source: dpa-tmn
“The large interior space of a van needs a lot of energy to get warm, especially in winter.
With a wallbox, the energy comes directly from the power grid and not from the battery, ”explains Stumpp.
Vehicles with a smart connection via app are also helpful, for example to remotely monitor the battery level, start the charging process or find charging stations on a route in the navigation system.
Then even with an average battery range, the vacation trip will not turn into a stress test.
Do private customers already have advantages with e-vans?
For private customers, Jens Dralle does not yet see any decisive advantages with e-vans apart from locally emission-free driving: “That could change in two years, if the range continues to increase and prices fall.
The market is only now getting a real dynamic, and efficiency will increase. "
Electricity in business: Especially in urban areas, some tradespeople might find pleasure in electric vans like the Vivaro-e from Opel
Source: dpa-tmn