What Van? Britain's biggest and best van buyers' guide

In a market reeling from supply issues and down almost a quarter compared with the same period in 2021, the strong increase in electric light commercial vehicles (eLCVs) is one bright spark. 

Full-electric LCV registrations were up 55.7%, from 5,692 units Jan-July 2021 to 8,865 Jan-July 2022 and while that only represents a market share of 5.4%, with diesel still dominant at 92.3%, the direction of travel is clear. To see what’s changed since our last feature on this topic in mid-2021, we’ve again asked some major players in the game, including a handful of electric van makers, but also several charging suppliers too, given that the path to full-electric is full of pitfalls and problems that aren’t just about the product. 

That said, product availability is key, and when the brand that has topped the UK’s LCV sales market for more than half a century launches its first proper full-electric vans, it suggests 2022 could be a pivotal year. This time in 2021, Ford only had plug-in hybrid (PHEV) vans on offer but from May 2022 that changed. While it’s certainly far from the first to market, the Blue Oval brand did do its homework and tried to understand its customers’ (not unfounded) concerns about going electric. “Ford researched, prior to launching E-Transit, the average daily mileage of a van driver, which turned out to be 69 miles,” its UK spokesperson says. “That means a two-tonne E-Transit (196-mile range) and one-tonne E-Transit Custom (237 miles) have enough range for most drivers’ daily needs.”

Ford’s research and assistance goes well beyond the sale too. “Customers are not refuelling in the same way as with diesel, so it is not realistic to expect to use eLCVs exactly as diesel fleets were deployed,” the Ford spokesperson continues. “Charging options at depot, overnight at employees’ houses, en route or at the destination need deciding and factoring in. Ford Pro, the company’s commercial vehicle support business, provides a ‘one-stop’ service to small to medium enterprises (SMEs) and considers charging as well as finance, reduced service and running costs, to understand the proposition on a longer-term basis.” Ford hasn’t ditched its PHEV offering though, describing such tech as “a good bridging technology while the charging network grows, and providing flexibility and peace of mind.”   

Renault might have been an early adopter of electric vans, offering one of the first in its Kangoo ZE small van more than a decade ago, but in 2022 it has improved its offering again, beyond the Zoe electric city van and larger Master eLCV. “Renault has positioned itself at the forefront in the transition to electrified vehicles,” says Steve Whitcombe, UK head of brand, Pro+ and commercial vehicles. “The all-new Kangoo Van – awarded the International Van of the Year 2022 – is the culmination of more than 10 years’ experience in the field, reinvigorating a model that has won 70,000 customers since 2011. With a 90kW motor and a 45kW lithium-ion battery with a WLTP range of 186 miles – the highest available in the small van sector – it [Kangoo E-Tech] sets the bar even higher in meeting the needs of professional customers.”  

The Stellantis group of brands has definitely stolen a march on many of its rivals in terms of eLCVs too. Last year we spoke to key sales people at Vauxhall and Peugeot and this year we pick the brains of Richard Chamberlain, director of commercial vehicles at Stellantis UK – and about Fiat in particular. “As Fiat Professional’s retailer network is delivered alongside its truck network, it has a better understanding of SMEs and business owners, including longer-opening hours to get customers back on the road quickly, additional and bigger ramps, wider parking areas and specific expertise with LCVs,” he says. “In addition, the Fiat Professional Ducato is a different powertrain to our sister brands at Stellantis and was awarded What Van?’s 2022 Van of the Year. Fiat Professional also offers peace of mind through its products such as five years’ warranty, five years’ roadside assistance and five years’ servicing.”

However, Chamberlain is under no illusion that great eLCV product and service can win in isolation and was refreshingly honest in what he considers the biggest hurdles to UK’s LCV fleet going electric by 2030. “Unfortunately, there is not one clear answer to this,” he begins. “While Stellantis brands Peugeot, Citroen, Fiat Professional and Vauxhall offer a complete range of BEVs, this is not the case for the wider market. In addition, demand remains strong, but the supply of batteries and some of the critical components like semi-conductors remains weak, slowing the speed of adoption. Charging is still a major component that remains a concern, and this is limiting adoption. Most vans are a critical part of a business’s infrastructure so the reliability of charging is critical to ensure the required range to meet their daily tasks. Otherwise, this can negatively affect the reputation of a business.”

To address the lack of charging infrastructure some brands are taking matters into their own hands and/or teaming up with charger networks, to expand the network of chargers more quickly than might otherwise be the case if left entirely to market forces. VW is one player taking this aspect seriously, no doubt because it is already well-advanced with its full-electric ID passenger car range, which this year is joined by the ID Buzz and Buzz Cargo van versions. “I think it’s unrealistic for someone in 2022 to say with certainty what will be required in 2030 let alone 2035,” reasons Volkswagen Group UK managing director Alex Smith. “But not knowing the end game shouldn’t stop anybody from being brave in infrastructure expansion now and building slightly ahead of demand.
There needs to be solutions for those who don’t have off-street parking at home and high-power charging on major arterial routes and motorways, and lots of them.” To that end, VW has a trio of charging partnerships in place. “We have a branded relationship with 500 Tesco stores with a mix of 400 7kW and 100 22kW chargers (as well as a few chargeable 50kW chargers),” Smith continues. “This is the largest free-charging infrastructure, free electricity to anybody with a vehicle of any brand. We also have a partnership with BP, rolling out thousands of high-powered chargers on their forecourts and we’re a shareholder in the Ionity charging network too. Through these three ventures I think it’s fair to say we’re playing our part.” Order books for the Buzz Cargo have not yet opened, but for the ID Buzz passenger car, there are deals to be had and VW is looking at whether they might be attractive to van drivers too. “To simplify customers’ charging experience at home and on the go, those who finance their vehicle through Volkswagen Commercial Vehicle Financial services are eligible for a free 7kW wall box charger worth up to £949 and a free ‘We Charge’ voucher worth £100,” says Kate Thompson, head of marketing at Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles. “Customers who already have a wall box are eligible to receive a ‘We Charge’ voucher worth £1,000 as an alternative.”