Introductions to electric vans
Many people don't realise that 100% electric vans have been available in the UK for many years, mainly due to them looking no different to their diesel counterparts and its only the lack of exhaust pipe at the rear that gives it away. Electric vans started in 2009-10 with Allied Electric and Smiths, both UK companies, converting diesel vans to a fully electric drivetrain. Also in 2009 the Citroen Berlingo Electric was available in the UK, but in sold in very small numbers. Since early 2012, the most popular electric van (and the world's largest seller), has been the Renault Kangoo ZE. Then later in 2014, the slightly larger Nissan e-NV200, based on the Leaf, became available in the UK.
Allied Electric, Smiths & Azure
These companies took regular diesel LCVs (or HGVs in Smith's case) and converted them to a fully electric drivetrain. Allied Electric converted Peugeot Partner, Bipper, Expert and Boxer vans,. Smiths often electrified Ford Transit vans but mainly offered larger HGVs, Azure Dynamics converted the Ford Transit Connect. However, all these companies no longer make or support electric vans. Smiths vans are pretty rare now, with most probably scrapped due to lack of parts. Allied produced more vehicles and these occasionally appear on the used market now. Allied no longer make or support these electric vehicles, so lack of spares and expertise is a problem, so I wouldn't recommend buying them. Neither the Ford or Peugeot dealerships will work on these conversion vehicles and electric powertrain spares are virtually impossible to source, so you could find these vehicles end up prematurely being scrapped when they require repairs.
Allied brochure & vehicle specs
Citroen
The Berlingo electrique van was sold in the UK between 1998 and 2005, but sales were extremely low in the UK. More were sold in France as the French post office used them. The next electric model Berlingo was available in the UK from 2013 and although it had a 22.5 kWh lithium-ion battery, Chademo rapid charging and a 106 NEDC range, sales have been even smaller at only around 20 per year in the UK. Consequently they are almost unseen in the used market are dwarfed by the Renault Kangoo ZE availability.
The 2013+ Berlingo is exactly the same vehicle as the Peugeot Partner electric van.
2014 Citroen Berlingo Electric
Peugeot
To date, the only electric van from Peugeot is the Partner. This is the same van as the Citroen Berlingo. Like the Berlingo, the Partner has sold in very small numbers in the UK and subsequently rarely appear for sale. While the 2016 model has sold slightly sold better, still only 125 were sold in the UK, so few come up for sale second hand.
These are excellent vans though as all have DC rapid charging, air conditioning and they are the only electric van with 3 seats in the front. Up to late 2017, all electric vans are short wheel base (L1 model). In late 2017 the L2 model is available in electric. This has a longer body, but the wheelbase remains the same as the extra cargo area is behind the rear axle.
2014 Peugeot Partner Electric
Renault
Kangoo ZE
The Renault Kangoo ZE is the world's top selling electric van and has been available in the UK since 2012. It uses the same Kangoo II bodyshell as the diesel variant, so available in either a short-wheelbase or long-wheel base, called the Maxi,. The Maxi is also available as a crewcab version with 5 seats. It has a 22kWh battery pack and like all Renaults, this is leased. It is only from 2017 models, where there was an option to purchase the battery when new. Like the Zoe, battery owned models are denoted by "i" - i.e. "Kangoo i ZE".
In late 2017 the Kangoo got a new 33kWh battery pack, which increases the NEDC range to 170 miles , which was previously 110 miles with the 22kWh battery. This new model also gains a heatpump heating system and a 7kW charger, knocking 2 hour off the charging time.
2012 Renault Kangoo ZE
Master ZE
In early 2019 the Renault Master ZE comes to the UK, with a 33kWh battery pack and a real word range of around 70 miles. The NEDC range is 124 miles. The van is available in three wheelbase lengths and two roof heights. There's also a platform cab version for custom bodies on the back. Price is £45,700+VAT after the OLEV grant.
For further information, see the AutoExpress review and the Renault website.
2019 Renault Master ZE
Nissan
The e-NV200 was released in Europe in June 2014 and is in terms of size it sits somewhere between the Kangoo SWB and Kangoo Maxi.
More to follow shortly.
LDV
LDV, the former Leyland DAF manufacturer went into liquidation in 2008 and later the intellectual property rights were purchased by the Chinese SAIC Motor Company in 2010. Now LDV is back in the UK with a range of vans using the old Maxus bodyshell.
The new all-electric LDV EV80 arrived in the UK in early 2018 and is available in LWB medium roof panel van or chassis cab versions, with options for flatbed, tipper or Luton bodies. Not only was this the only large electric van at the time, with a 56kWh battery and CCS charging, it is still has a higher range than the new Renault Master ZE and Volkwagen e-Crafter coming in 2019. The EV80 has a real world range of 120 miles.
LDV EV80