Best electric vans 2024

It isn’t only cars that are making the switch to electric power, because the electric van market is rapidly expanding, too. The best electric vans still offer plenty of payload and carrying capacity, and you’ll also benefit from the financial and environmental benefits of driving an EV. Our expert road testers have tested every electric van that you can buy in the UK, and you’ll find the very best options listed below.

Best electric vans

1. Ford E-Transit Custom
2. Renault Master E-Tech
3. Citroen e-Dispatch/Fiat e-Scudo/Peugeot e-Expert/Toyota Proace Electric/Vauxhall Vivaro Electric
4. Ford E-Transit 
5. Volkswagen ID. Buzz Cargo  
6. Renault Kangoo E-Tech/Nissan Townstar EV/Mercedes eCitan
7. Citroen e-Berlingo/Fiat e-Doblo/Peugeot e-Partner/Toyota Proace City Electric/Vauxhall Combo Electric 
8. Mercedes eSprinter
9. Fiat E-Ducato 
10. LEVC VN5

1. Ford e-Transit Custom

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• Prices from £44,900 (excl. VAT)
• Van size: medium
• Maximum WLTP combined battery range: 209 miles
• Maximum payload: 1,088kg
• Maximum load volume: 6.8 cubic metres

The Transit Custom is a huge seller for Ford, so it was inevitable that the brand’s medium panel van would make the transition to electric power. The Ford E-Transit Custom doesn’t really look any different from its diesel and plug-in hybrid powered counterparts, but this is deliberate. The E-Transit Custom is as car-like to drive as we’ve come to expect, offers plenty of kit and will happily take on a great deal of cargo.

This level of similarity is what Ford hopes will draw customers towards its fully electric medium van. The Custom’s 64kWh battery pack means longer motorway trips aren’t out of the question, either, as it returns up to 209 miles on the WLTP combined cycle. This is an important van for Ford, and it’s such an appealing machine that we named it our 2024 Electric Van of the Year.

2. Renault Master E-Tech

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• Prices from £42,500 (excl. VAT)
• Van size: large
• Maximum WLTP combined battery range: 285 miles
• Maximum payload: 1,625kg
• Maximum load volume: 14.8 cubic metres

The latest Renault Master E-Tech is a much more convincing electric van than the one it replaced. While the older model only offered a miserly 115 miles of battery range at best, the new one can cover up to 285 miles between charges. Covering these miles shouldn’t prove too much of a chore, either, since the latest Master is pleasingly refined on the move.

It may be a large panel van, but the Master’s interior is a rather car-like affair. At the centre of the dashboard is a 10-inch touchscreen that operates Renault’s openR Link infotainment system (the same system used by several of the brand’s cars), and this is surrounded by a generous helping of standard kit, including air-conditioning, a digital driver’s display, automatic headlights and wipers and rear parking sensors. There’s 135 litres of handy storage space in the cab, too.

3. Vauxhall Vivaro Electric/Citroen e-Dispatch/Peugeot e-Expert//Toyota Proace Electric/Fiat e-Scudo

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• Prices from £38,378 (Proace Electric, excl. VAT)
• Van size: medium
• Maximum WLTP combined battery range: 219 miles
• Maximum payload: 1,275kg
• Maximum load volume: 6.6 cubic metres

Stellantis isn’t afraid to share platforms, and the Vauxhall Vivaro Electric, Citroen e-Dispatch, Peugeot e-Expert and Fiat e-Scudo all share the same platform and basic design. If that’s not enough choice for you, though, the Toyota Proace Electric is also a member of this family of medium-sized vans.

Whichever badge you decide to go for (that choice will mostly boil down to brand loyalty and finance or leasing deals) these vans offer up to 6.6 cubic metres of load volume, while payload weights of up to 1,275kg aren't too far behind the diesel variants. Do be aware, though, that carrying a full load will hamper the van's overall range. Inside, these vans are packed with safety and connectivity features from the Stellantis car range. There's full connectivity and smartphone access to assorted functions, too, while double cab variants are ideal for those who need to carry passengers as well as cargo.

4. Ford E-Transit 

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• Prices from £48,045 (exc. VAT)
• Van size: Large
• Maximum WLTP combined battery range: 249 miles
• Maximum payload: 1,745kg
• Maximum load volume: 15.1 cubic metres

The Ford E-Transit offers up to 249 miles of range and there’s no reduction in space compared to the diesel model. So, in other words, this is a great stepping stone into the world of zero-emission vans. The E-transit is good to drive and surprisingly quick off the line, too — especially if you opt for the larger 265bhp motor. Ford also offers several sizes and variants of the E-Transit, so there should be a version to suit your business’s needs. 

Inside, the E-Transit’s cabin is a comfortable place to sit, with a tall driving position, large mirrors and plenty of cabin storage. Ford’s SYNC4 12-inch touchscreen set-up is available as an option on entry-level models, along with adaptive cruise control, climate control and electronic driver aids. 

5. Volkswagen ID.Buzz Cargo 

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• Prices from £35,616 (excl. VAT)
• Van size: medium
• Maximum WLTP combined battery range: 276 miles
• Maximum payload: 710kg
• Maximum load volume: 3.9 cubic metres

Not only does the Volkswagen ID.Buzz Cargo offer the distinctive retro charm of the classic Type 2, but it also has plenty of cleverly packed space and up to 276 miles of battery range on the WLTP combined cycle. VW’s groovy electric van shares the same MEB platform as the ID.3 hatchback, plus the ID.4 and ID.5 SUVs. This makes it car-like to drive, and the suspension does a good job at soaking up bumps and imperfections in the road.

Although it’s shorter than a Tesla Model Y, the ID.Buzz offers plenty of space on board thanks to some clever engineering. Its distinctive design will certainly help your business to stand out, too.

6. Renault Kangoo E-Tech/Nissan Townstar EV/Mercedes eCitan

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• Prices from £32,700 (eCitan, excl. VAT)
• Van size: small
• Maximum WLTP combined battery range: 186 miles
• Maximum payload: 975kg
• Maximum load volume: 4.3 cubic metres

When it was first launched, the original Kangoo Z.E was one of the first mainstream electric vans to go on sale. Today, Renault has used its experience to create the Kangoo E-Tech, and this van shares its DNA with the Nissan Townstar EV and Mercedes eCitan.

All three of these vans offer sharp styling and a car-like driving experience, and with up to 186 miles of battery range on offer, occasional longer journeys won’t be a problem. If you know your Renaults, each van’s interior may look familiar as the switchgear and steering wheel are borrowed from the Clio supermini.

7. Citroen e-Berlingo/Peugeot e-Partner/Toyota Proace City Electric/Fiat e-Doblo/Vauxhall Combo Electric

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• Prices from £22,411 (Proace City, excl. VAT)
• Van size: small
• Maximum WLTP combined battery range: 213 miles
• Maximum payload: 781kg
• Maximum load volume: 4.4 cubic metres

Much like the Citroen e-Berlingo and its siblings, this group of medium vans is another that benefits from Stellantis’s shared battery technology. The Citroen e-Berlingo, Peugeot e-Partner, Toyota Proace City Electric and Vauxhall Combo Electric all sit on the same underpinnings, and this results in a maximum WLTP combined range of 213 miles along with plenty of size and capacity options. 

CCS fast-charging at a rate of up to 100kW should also prove useful to operators, meaning these vans can be topped-up to 80 per cent in around half an hour – ideal for getting it back on the road for a new shift. The Toyota has the edge over its Stellantis siblings when it comes to maintenance, though. Just like the brand’s passenger cars, this small electric van is also covered by the brand's 10-year service warranty, which is significantly longer than anything offered with the other versions. 

8. Mercedes eSprinter

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• Prices from £59,915 (excl. VAT)
• Van size: large
• Maximum WLTP combined battery range: 273 miles
• Maximum payload: 1,273kg
• Maximum load volume: 14 cubic metres

The Mercedes eSprinter is a large panel van with a premium badge and up to 273 miles of battery range, so it has plenty going for it. However, these qualities do come at a cost as you’ll be looking at around £60,000. If you can afford it, though, the big Mercedes does feel a bit posher than at least some of its rivals.

Opt for the entry-level Pro trim and you’ll get Mercedes’ MBUX multimedia system as standard, along with a heated driver’s seat, Tempmatic air-conditioning and pre-entry climate control. There’s a plethora of safety and driver-assistance tech, too, such as active brake assist, hill-start assist, blind spot assist, crosswind assist, lane-keeping assist, and intelligent speed assist.

9. Fiat E-Ducato

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• Prices from £49,485 (excl.VAT)
• Van size: large
• Maximum WLTP combined battery range: 263 miles
• Maximum payload: 1,460kg
• Maximum load volume: 17 cubic metres

The Fiat E-Ducato promises a wide variety of tailored options for electric van buyers. There are 3 lengths and 3 heights of panel van for a total of 28 body styles, as well as a chassis cab option and even a passenger version with up to 9 seats. Cargo volumes are hard to fault, while payloads go as high as 1,460kg.

There's a choice of two batteries, either 47kWh or 79kWh, which offer up to 146 miles and 263 miles respectively. Fiat has also boosted the recharging rate for the E-Ducato with 150kW peak DC rapid charging. 

10. LEVC VN5 

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• Prices from £53,950 (excl. VAT)
• Van size: medium
• Maximum WLTP combined mpg: 382.2mpg
• Maximum payload: 830kg
• Maximum load volume: 5.5 cubic metres

If you’re not entirely keen on the idea of a Battery Electric Vehicle (BEV), the LEVC VN5 takes a slightly different approach. This van is still driven by electric motors, but its 34.6kWh battery is charged by a combustion engine. This is known as a range-extender plug-in hybrid, and if this medium van’s design looks familiar, that’s because it’s made by the company that builds the TX London black cab.

The rather small battery means the VN5 has an all-electric range of 74 miles. However, when the battery is flat, the engine kicks in, and the van then has a total combined range of 308 miles. That means the VN5 is a viable everyday van that will be able to operate just like a diesel van. If you keep the battery charged, you might not even need the petrol engine on most journeys.

That’s the van sorted, now take a look at the best​ electric cars…