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Best electric vans 2024 – charged, tried and tested
The number of electric vans available to buy is growing, but which ones offer the right blend of range and practicality to make you go green, and which are the loose connections? Here we list the...
Electric vans now come in more shapes and sizes, and suit more budgets than ever before. Just as with electric cars and electric SUVs, going green when choosing a van is something more buyers are inclined to do, and they make great sense – especially if they're mainly driven in the city, and you can charge up either at home or at work.
Indeed, electric vans have made up 16.4% of total van sales so far in 2023 – and that number is only going to go up. Fundamentally, though, an electric van must still be a good van, and that means it needs to be practical and comfortable, and able to function as a mobile office when it's not on the move (when it's being charged up, for example).
Here we're revealing the best electric vans on sale today, as well as naming the two that are best avoided. As always, you can click on the links below each car to read our full in-depth reviews. If you just want to know which is the best electric van, however, look no further: it's the Ford E-Transit.
Your electric van questions answered
Which electric van has the best range?
If you're looking for the electric van which can travel the furthest on a single charge, then the answer is the Volkswagen ID Buzz Cargo. With an official range of up to 258 miles, and the ability to charge from 5-80% in half an hour if you use the fastest charging points, it's ideally suited to drivers needing to go further afield. We like the Buzz Cargo's intelligent driver assistance systems and that it's pleasant to drive, but its payload is only modest for the class, and it's expensive compared with electric rivals.
What is the best small electric van?
The best small electric van is the Renault Kangoo E-Tech. It's based on our reigning Small Van of the Year, the Renault Kangoo, but swaps that van's combustion engines for an electric motor and battery. Officially, the Kangoo E-Tech can take you up to 186 miles between charges, but you're likely to see closer to 160 miles in real-world conditions. It's slightly more expensive to buy than some rivals, but offers lots of space and decent load volumes.
What is the electric Van of the Year 2023?
Our reigning champion in the electric van market is the Ford E-Transit. Not only did it win the electric van category at our most recent Van and Commercial Vehicle Awards, but it also took the Best Large Van title along with the overall Van of the Year Award. As well as its impressive real-world electric range, the E-Transit makes a great case for itself by being every bit as practical as most van drivers are likely to need, while also being good to drive and having the ability to drastically lower your running costs.
Are electric vans cheap to run?
Yes, electric vans can be a lot cheaper to run than traditional diesel-engined models, but you'll get the biggest bang for your buck if you can charge them up either at home or at work. That's because using a charger at those places rather than relying on the public charging network means you can schedule your charging for when the energy prices are cheapest, meaning it can cost just a few pounds to top up your battery.
What is an E-Van?
E-Van is a term some van makers have begun using to describe their electified models. In practical terms, an E-Van can refer to a van which is either fully electric or a plug-in hybrid. And since there aren't many of the former, most buyers can take the term E-Van to mean an electric van.
1. Ford E-Transit
What Car? rating 5 stars
The E-Transit isn't just the best electric van you can buy right now, it's also the best large van full stop. With a long electric range of up to 196 miles between charges, agile handling that makes it feel smaller than it really is to drive, and a spacious yet practical interior, it represents a real watershed moment for electric vans.
This largest electric Transit makes good sense for fleets, too, because it will cost you less to buy than some rivals, including the Mercedes eSprinter, and is about on par with the Renault Master E-Tech. The Ford is better than either of those models to drive, however.
We think it's so good, in fact, that we've made it our Overall Van of the Year for 2023 – and businesses looking to go green will need a good reason not to buy one.
Strengths Staggering power | Attractive infotainment | Huge range of body types
Weaknesses May be too fast for some fleets | High rear step | Two-stage regenerative braking takes some getting used to
Read our full Ford E-Transit review >>
=2. Nissan Townstar EV
What Car? rating 5 stars
Nissan certainly knows a thing or two about building electric cars, but the Townstar Electric aims to show that van drivers can benefit from green power too. It swaps combustion power for a 45kWh battery and a 121bhp electric motor which provides peppy performance, and enough range to officially cover 183 miles between charges.
The Townstar EV has the edge over rival small electric vans such as the Citroën e-Berlingo when it comes to driving dynamics, feeling more agile even when fully loaded, while the interior impresses with plenty of upmarket materials and creature comforts. We just wish the infotainment system had a higher-resolution screen.
As with all Nissan vans, the Townstar EV comes with a five-year warranty, while its battery is covered for eight years. Speaking of the battery, charging it from 15-80% can take as little as 37 minutes if you use an 80kW rapid charger.
Strengths Smart interior | Five-year standard warranty | Comfortable and easy to drive
Weaknesses Poor infotainment system |Only top trim gets full safety kit | No fast charging option on base models
Read our full Nissan Townstar EV review >>
=2. Mercedes eCitan
What Car? rating 5 stars
If you like the look of the Nissan Townstar Electric above, but would rather have a premium badge on your van's bonnet, then the Mercedes eCitan should be your next logical stepping stone. That's because it's twinned with both the Townstar EV and the Renault Kangoo E-Tech, so shares many of the same virtues as those vans.
That means you get the same nippy 121bhp electric motor and 45kWh battery, which in the eCitan is good for an official range of 174 miles. And while the Kangoo E-Tech has slightly more space available for drivers to store their odds and ends, the eCitan counters with a better infotainment system, with Mercedes MBUX software proving to be flash to look at and quick to respond to your inputs.
You'll pay more for an eCitan than you will for most rivals, but if you value high-end comfort, we think it's a price worth paying.
Strengths Quiet yet comfortable | Roomy interior | High levels of safety
Weaknesses Limited equipment on base trim |More expensive than rivals
Read our full Mercedes eCitan review >>
=2. Renault Kangoo E-Tech
What Car? rating 5 stars
The Kangoo E-Tech takes everything that we like about the regular Renault Kangoo – our reigning Small Van of the Year – and adds in the potential for low running costs thanks to electric power.
The result is a decent electric range of up to 186 miles according to official tests, and plenty of punch thanks to its 121bhp electric motor. The Kangoo E-Tech handles very well despite carrying around a heavy battery pack, and we appreciated that there are three levels of regenerative braking to choose from, so you can decide how much of your braking energy is put back into the battery to extend your range. It also rides better than the rival Peugeot e-Partner and Vauxhall Combo Electric.
We also like that most volumes are able to carry decent load volumes, while innovations such as Renault's Easy Inside Rack – which allows you to carry longer items like ladders on the inside of the van rather than the outside – increase everyday practicality.
Strengths Good electric range | Powerful motor | Spacious passenger and load compartments
Weaknesses Lacking on some options until crew cab version arrives | Slightly more expensive than some rivals
Read our full Renault Kangoo E-Tech review >>
=5. Citroën e-Berlingo Van
What Car? rating 4 stars
The e-Berlingo is one of four badge-engineered vans from within the big manufacturing group known as Stellantis. What does that mean for you? Well, in essence, that much of the e-Berlingo's qualities are shared with similarly sized vans from Peugeot, Toyota and Vauxhall. Where the e-Berlingo has the edge over those models, however, is with a keen price. Indeed, it represents something of a bargan in the electric van class.
Add in that the e-Berlingo comes loaded with kit, offers all the space you could want and is decent to drive, and it's easy to recommend. In fact, only its small door mirrors and the lack of a high roof variant stop it from rising any higher up our rankings.
Strengths Low running costs | Rapid charging | Well thought out load space
Weaknesses Small door mirrors | No high roof variant
Read our full Citroën e-Berlingo Van review >>
=5. Peugeot e-Partner
What Car? rating 4 stars
Like its badge-engineered siblings, the Peugeot e-Partner is good to drive, has a long range and offers plenty of space for anything you might wish to haul around. It's also pleasantly quiet on the move, partly thanks thanks to the lack of a combustion engine, but also thanks to lots of sound-deadening materials being used to seperate you from the outside world.
Where the e-Partner differs from its stablemates, is inside, where you get the same i-Cockpit layout that features Peugeot cars. With that, you looking over a small steering wheel at the instrument cluster, rather than through it. It takes some getting used to, and won't be for everyone, but works well enough once you've set up your ideal driving position.
Strengths Low running costs | Rapid charging | Well thought out load space
Weaknesses Small door mirrors | No high roof variant
Read our full Peugeot e-Partner review >>
=5. Toyota Proace City Electric
What Car? rating 4 stars
Just like its siblings, the Proace City Electric has a decent electric range which officially allows it to travel for up to 171 miles between charges, while drawing energy from its 50kWh battery.
The single 134bhp electric motor is punchy, too, providing plenty of power even when it's loaded up with people and items. That the Proace City also comes with lots of kit and has the backing of Toyota's excellent warranty scheme in case anything goes wrong completes a very tempting package.
Strengths Long equipment list | Rapid charging | Excellent warranty scheme
Weaknesses Small door mirrors | Limited choice of bodies | Expensive up-front cost
Read our full Toyota Proace City Electric review >>
=5. Vauxhall Combo Electric
Star rating 4
The same strengths that make the Citroën e-Relay, Peugeot e-Partner and Toyota Proace City Electric so recommendable to those looking for a small electric van also apply to the Vauxhall Combo Electric.
Namely, that means it's decent to drive, with the same 50kWh battery and 134bhp electric motor which features in its siblings providing a good range and peppy performance – even if you've loaded it to the gunwhales with people and luggage.
Like its siblings, it struggles in not offering the plethora of body styles which appeal to larger fleets, but for drivers who need to move a reasonable amount of load in the city, the Combo Electric makes a good choice.
Strengths Fast charging | Good range
Weaknesses Dynamic trim is basic | Sibling vans from Citroën, Peugeot and Toyota receive more kit
Read our full Vauxhall Combo Electric review >>
=9. Citroën e-Dispatch
What Car? rating 3 stars
We've already seen how Citroën, Peugeot, Toyota and Vauxhall have collaborated on smaller electric van models, but the four brands have also worked together on their larger electric models, resulting in the Citroën e-Dispatch, Peugeot e-Expert, Toyota Proace Electric and Vauxhall Vivaro Electric.
The e-Dispatch is available with two battery sizes, 50kWh and 75kWh, with official ranges of 143 miles and 205 miles respectively. The e-Dispatch is available in a good range of body styles, meaning there'll be an option to suit most businesses, plus, like its siblings, it comes with a lot of kit for your money. That helps to make up for the fact that it will cost you more to buy than some other electric vans.
Strengths Good range of body options | Battery size and range | Extensive equipment options
Weaknesses Expensive to buy | Better residuals than its Vauxhall sibling | Cramped interior
Read our full Citroën e-Dispatch review >>
=9. Peugeot e-Expert
What Car? rating 3 stars
Like its siblings, the Peugeot e-Expert has a decent range of up to 205 miles, and all the payload space you could want. Indeed, Peugeot's mid-size electric van can carry more than some rivals, even if it's not as generous in the space it gives over for your passengers. Plus, the e-Expert will drop its value faster than some rivals – even those with which it shares its underpinnings.
On the plus side, it offers impressive power and range, plenty of standard kit and a choice of size and battery options.
Strengths High payloads for an electric van | Plenty of body sizes | Generous equipment
Weaknesses More expensive than rivals | Vauxhall Vivaro-e residual values are better | Needs more space in the footwell
Read our full Peugeot e-Expert review >>
=9. Toyota Proace Electric
What Car? rating 3 stars
Where Toyota's electric van offering differs from those of its Citroën, Peugeot and Vauxhall siblings is with its warranty, because the Proace Electric gets five years of cover should anything go wrong. That might give you extra peace of mind, and help to make up for the fact that even among its rivals, it's an expensive buy.
That said, the Proace Electric impresses in the same areas as its badge-engineered siblings, namely in offering a decent electric range and having all the carrying capacity most van drivers will need.
Strengths Fast charging | Good range
Weaknesses Sibling vans from Citroën, Peugeot and Toyota receive more kit
Read our full Toyota Proace Electric review >>
=9. Vauxhall Vivaro-e
What Car? rating 3 stars
The Vivaro Electric was our overall Van of the Year in 2021, but is beginning to feel behind the times now, especially in relation to some of the models at the top of this list. It's quite expensive, and rivals offer more driver and passenger space.
At least, like its siblings, the Vivaro Electric has a decent electric range of up to 205 miles, the ability to haul a large load, and comes with a good amount of kit as standard. That it can also charge quickly – a 0-80% top-up can be completed in as little as 30 minutes if you use a 100kW rapid charger – will be a bonus for busy drivers.
Strengths Fast charging | Good range
Weaknesses Dynamic trim is basic | Sibling vans from Citroën, Peugeot and Toyota receive more kit
Read our full Vauxhall Vivaro-e review >>
And the electric vans to avoid...
Citroën e-Relay
What Car? rating 2 stars
It offers all the space you could want from a large van, but the e-Relay is poor as an electric model, with a disappointingly short range, a below-par interior and slow acceleration.
Peugeot e-Boxer
What Car? rating 2 stars
The same issues that earn the Citroën e-Relay a place on our avoid list affect its Peugeot sibling, too. In short, its conversion from combustion to electric power wasn't successful, with sluggish performance and more noise than in rivals.
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Read more: Best and worst electric cars >>
How we choose the best electric vans
Our list of the best electric vans you can buy is continually updated, following a continual programme of testing and retesting every model on the market.
That full regime is fully outlined in our how we test vans feature, but because our expert reviewers understand that the needs of the electric van buyer are often different to those choosing a petrol or diesel-powered van, we pay special attention to the following areas:
Electric vans are best suited to congested urban roads, so our testers consider how they tackle the kind of rough, broken Tarmac and speed humps drivers will encounter every day. Refinement is key to staying safe and relaxed on the road, so we assess road and wind noise, plus any acoustic interference from the suspension. Electric vans will lose marks for interior bangs or rattles, too.
Key to the ability of any van is its practicality and cargo-carrying capacity. That means we measure the outright capacity, and compare its payloads with rivals – both electric and combustion – to ensure it’ll be suited to your needs. We also assess how far – and how easily – all doors open, the height of the cargo floor. Extra marks go to vans with features that make life easier, such as a load-through bulkhead or electrically opening side doors.
Not only will we tell you how many miles an electric van will travel on a charge using official figures, but we’ll also confirm how many miles you can realistically expect in the real world. We examine the time it’ll take to charge from home and rapid public chargers, and assess the tech that might help you travel farther or charge faster. Crucially, we compare these figures with rival models..
These are just some of the tests every van goes through before it’ll be given the definitive What Car? rating. Our feature outlines how we test vans.
