Ford E-Transit charging
Front view of Ford E-Transit driving
Toyota Proace Electric front on driving
Maxus eDeliver 9 parked on gravel
Mercedes-Benz eVito driving with city in the background
Citroen e-Berlingo parked front view
Renault Kangoo E-Tech side-on driving view
► The best fully electric vans of 2023► Don’t compromise on load space
► Which electric van suits your needs best?
Pure battery-electric vans have started to make inroads on the sales chart, with more and more being sold every month. Diesel is still king, but EVs now make up more than 5% of the overall market and this proportion is rising all the time with buyers snapping up electric vans as fast as they can get their hands on them.
In fact, many are leaping over the petrol and hybrid phase that could have acted as a stepping stone to full electric. SMMT data shows that EV sales have risen by more than 50% in 2022 to date versus the same period in 2021. This is aided by an ever-increasing number of new arrivals in the market, with the big names releasing electric versions of their best-selling models.
Read on for our guide to the best electric vans 2023.
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It’s beyond the point where electric vans are a novelty, too. Bedford tested them in the 1980s, you have been able to buy the likes of the Renault Kangoo E-Tech for more than a decade and the modern tech is in wide use in the passenger car world. All this means that EV vans are now actually good and could act as the only commercial vehicle for a wider range of buyers.
The best electric vans: our guide to the best of 2023
Electric vans are making more and more sense with each passing year. Battery ranges are improving and payload capacities are becoming better too which makes an electric van a viable choice for the first time.
We’ve found a range of different electric vans suitable for a number of duties. So, whether you’re zooming around city streets making deliveries or carting masses of building supplied around, here are the best electric vans available today:
Ford E-TransitMaxus eDeliver 9Toyota Proace ElectricToyota Proace City ElectricFiat E-DucatoCitroen e-Dispatch, Fiat E-Scudo, Peugeot e-Expert, Vauxhall Vivaro ElectricCitroen e-Berlingo, Fiat E-Doblo, Peugeot e-Partner, Vauxhall Combo ElectricRenault Kangoo E-TechMaxus eDeliver 3
Mercedes-Benz eVito
Ford E-Transit
- From £48,640*
The Ford E-Transit wasn’t the first electric van you could buy but its arrival has seen it go straight to the top of the class and it is comfortably the best you can buy. It more than matches its rivals on its range, has a payload that is not impacted by the switch to electric and it is as great to drive as its diesel equivalents – better even. It’s also the most powerful van you can buy, with one of its two versions offering a frankly amusing 269hp. The other model is not exactly underendowed, either, with 184hp.
It also undercut most of its rivals financially, too, when it launched, although some have fiddled with price lists to cut costs where they can. Despite this, it leaves the rest trailing and looks set to be the best for some time to come. Our sister publication Parkers named it the 2023 Van of the Year.
Maxus eDeliver 9
- From £48,000
The what? The Maxus eDeliver 9 doesn’t have the most well-known name, but this could change as it has a huge amount going for it. It feels far more well constructed than many of its large-EV rivals, which are often hastily assembled conversions that feel poor relations by comparison. The eDeliver 9 offers you a choice of three batteries, with a maximum range of 185 miles. If range is less important then you can get a version that is capable of carrying a 1200kg payload.
It only comes in one trim but it is well equipped and has some excellent kit in the smart and comfortable cabin. It’s covered by a five-year warranty, too, which should help with those who are unsure about heading to a brand with which they might not be familiar.
Toyota Proace Electric
- From £38,272
Before the Ford E-Transit came along, the best electric van you could buy was the Toyota Proace Electric. Not only is it reasonably priced and offers a maximum payload rating of 1226kg you can also get a version with 205-miles of range going by the WLTP rating. It should be more than enough van for many users.
It’s built on the same platform as the Vauxhall Vivaro Electric, Fiat E-Scudo, Peugeot e-Expert and Citroen e-Dispatch, but the standout feature of the Proace is its outstanding 10-year warranty, which is far and beyond anything else offered by a rival. It’s one of the best electric vans 2023.
Toyota Proace City Electric
- From £29,892*
Like the Proace Electric above, the Proace is the best option in the small-electric-van class thanks to its outstanding 10-year warranty. Like the Proace, it shares plenty with its Stellantis siblings – the Citroen e-Berlingo, Fiat E-Doblo, Peugeot e-Partner and Vauxhall Combo Electric. This means it is good to drive, has an excellent 171-mile WLTP range and can take up to 800kg in the load space.
Fiat E-Ducato
- From £56,625
The Fiat E-Ducato is not the most sophisticated large electric van, but it does have plenty of assets in its favour. With a weight of 4250kg for the panel van version, it’s heavy but still manages an impressive 175-mile range if the larger of two battery options is selected.
The best thing about the E-Ducato however is the huge 1885kg payload, which is massive for an electric van. A chassis cab is also available which means conversions will be relatively straightforward.
Citroen e-Dispatch | Fiat E-Scudo | Peugeot e-Expert | Vauxhall Vivaro Electric
- From £33,265
These four badge-engineered electric vans are very capable mid-sized vans that would be justifiably higher on shopping lists if Toyota wasn’t so generous with its 10-year warranty. Built on the same platform as the Toyota Proace, they’re reasonably priced and with a maximum payload rating of 1226kg and a 205-mile WLTP range, they’re a sound option.
Citroen e-Berlingo | Fiat eDoblo | Peugeot e-Partner | Vauxhall Combo Electric
- From £27,835
Sharing a platform with the Toyota Proace City Electric, this quartet of badge engineered vans are excellent small electric vans. Like the Toyota each one offers an 800kg load capacity, 171-mile WLTP range and a decent drive. All are also good value for money and would rank right at the top if Toyota’s 10-year warranty wasn’t so good.
Renault Kangoo E-Tech
- From £26,500
The Renault Kangoo has had an electric version for longer than almost any other commercial vehicle, and 2022 brought about an all-new model. This new Kangoo E-Tech has two trims, two lengths and one battery and motor combination with a range of 186 miles and a payload of 615kg. It’s a huge step forward versus the previous model but it is a shame that it didn’t move the bar that bit higher in what is now a highly competitive class.
Maxus eDeliver 3
- From £30,000
The first purpose-built EV van from Maxus, the eDeliver 3 is the lightest mid-sized EV van currently on sale. Range is good with a 151-mile WLTP range and it isn’t hampered travelling at motorway speeds, something that affects some other EV vans. Once known as LDV in the UK, Maxus is Chinese-owned and has had previous success with electric vans. Load space isn’t the largest and the interior has its quirks but the Maxus still worth considering.
Mercedes-Benz eVito
- From £44,035
The Mercedes-Benz eVito has taken a big stride forward with its most recent update, that brings about a boost in the range to 160 miles and a payload of up to 807kg. Previously it had a two-digit range, so this represents a notable improvement.
*All prices not including VAT
Do you agree with our choice of the best electric vans 2023? Be sure to sound off in the comments below!