The What Van? Road Test: Fiat Professional E-Ducato (2021)

Date: Friday, November 12, 2021

Operating

Ducato comes with what Fiat Professional describes as a 5-5-5 aftercare package embracing a five-year warranty, five years’ roadside assistance and five years’ servicing. The battery is warranted for eight years/100,000 miles, with the bigger five-module battery covered for an impressive ten years/135,000 miles.

Servicing costs are over 40% lower than those of a similar-sized diesel van reckons Fiat Professional.

A tyre repair kit is provided. Sorry, but we would rather have a proper spare wheel, despite the extra weight.

If you are going electric, then be sure to make sure you have your own charging facilities.

In reality, most publicly-accessible charging points are designed with cars in mind, and cannot comfortably accommodate a 3.5-tonner. Nor do enough of them allow you to pay for your power by using a credit card rather than being obliged to join some sort of charging club.

Fiat Professional E-Ducato 35 LWB HR 47kWh Van eTecnico

Price (ex VAT) £60,425**

Price range (ex VAT) £54,425-£75,570**

Gross payload 1,060kg

Load length 3,705mm

Load width (min/max) 1,422mm/1,870mm

Load bay height 1,932mm

Load volume 13m³

Loading height 590mm

Rear door aperture 1,562mm x 17,90mm

Side door aperture 1,250mm x 1,755mm

Gross vehicle weight 3,500kg

Residual value TBA

Cost per mile TBA

Engine size/power 90kW (122hp) electric motor

Torque 280Nm

Gearbox 1sp

Range 102 mls (WLTP combined)

Battery 47kWh

Warranty 5yrs/100,000 miles (battery - 8yrs/100,000 miles)

Service intervals 2yrs/36,000 miles

Insurance group TBA

Price as tested £60,655**

** Basic price before Plug-In Van Grant calculations

Options

Passenger airbag £230

Rivals

Maxus eDeliver 9

Price (ex VAT) From £55,000**

Load volume 9.7-11m³

Gross payload 860-1200kg

Electric motor 150kW

Verdict: Having dropped the LDV name in favour of Maxus, the Chinese manufacturer is importing a newly-introduced electric light commercial with a range of up to 219 miles depending on the version you select. Not short of power, the Maxus eDeliver 9 is well worth investigating.

Mercedes-Benz eSprinter

Price (ex VAT): £53,510-£54,050**

Load volume: 11m³

Gross payload: 731kg

Electric motor: 85kW

Verdict: Limited line-up, and at just shy of 96mls the maximum range between recharges cannot be classed as outstanding; and eSprinter relies on a 50mph speed limiter to achieve it. Specify an 80kW DC charger though and you can restore your battery to 80% of its capacity in half-an-hour says Mercedes.

Renault Master Van Z.E.

Price (ex VAT) £54,900-£61,800**

Load volume 8-13m³

Gross payload 925-1425kg

Electric motor 57kW

Verdict: Broad spread of models with a decent payload capability, but at 75mls, the range between recharges is limited – not an issue for all businesses, admittedly – and on-highway performance is not exactly overwhelming. Bear in mind that the same model is marketed by Renault Trucks; worth talking to if you have specialist conversion requirements.

The Final Verdict

Design 8/10 – Offering a choice of battery packs and ranges makes sound sense

Cabin 8/10 – Comfortable and well-equipped working environment that is unlikely to disappoint

Ride 6/10 – Choppy when E-Ducato is lightly-laden, but improves with some weight in the back

Refinement 6/10 – Absence of decibels from a diesel engine means other noises are highlighted

Load area 8/10 – Roomy, easy to access, and with plenty of load tie-down points

Handling/performance 6/10 – Over-assisted power steering – would benefit from a few more horses

Engine/transmission 8/10 – Power is delivered smoothly, with all the torque available instantly

Standard equipment 8/10 – Plenty of kit if you opt for eTecnico trim

Operating costs 9/10 – Impressive aftersales package and low maintenance

What Van? subjective rating 8/10 – Front-end price is painfully steep but competitive running costs keep price down

Overall Rating = 75/100

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