Toyota Proace Electric

Andrew Walker

Toyota launched the Proace Electric van in 2021. It’s based on the Stellantis’ medium electric van that manifests itself as the Vauxhall Vivaro-e, Peugeot e-Expert and Citroen e-Dispatch, and to all intents and purposes, it’s the same as these. That means you get a choice of two battery sizes, a driving range that will get you close to 200 miles between charges, an identical interior, the same carrying capability and identical load space.

There are some slight differences. The Proace Electric is only offered in one size, ‘Medium,’ and one spec, ‘Icon.’ Toyota also offers up to a 10-year warranty, whereas the Stellantis vans come with just 3 years.

There are actually four Icon models that Toyota offers, all Medium sized: Icon 50kWh, Icon 50kWh with an11kW on board charger, Icon 75kWh battery, or Icon 75kWh with an 11kW on board charger. All qualify for the OLEV £6,000 grant and prices range from £34,630 – £39,463 on the road.

Powertrain

The Proace Electric uses the same 134hp electric motor that you’ll find not only in the Stellantis electric vans, but in the marque’s electric cars as well. The Proace Electric Icon is offered with a choice of two batteries, either 50kWh or 75kW. Under the WLTP rating, the smaller battery offers a range of 143 miles, while the 75kW version will take you up to 204 miles. The 75kW battery is heavier, therefore the smaller battery versions offer the largest payload, in this case 1,226kg, while the 75kW battery powered models offer a 1,001 kg payload. The Proace Electric will also tow up 1,000kg.

Using a standard 7.2kW home charger, the 75kW battery on our test van, the Icon 75kW, takes 7 hours 30 mins to charge from empty. Choose the faster charging 11kW OBC 75kW Icon and plug into a more powerful 11kW wall box and the time is reduced to 4 hours 45 mins. It’s worth noting that if you utilise the ToyotaApp, you can enable remote cabin pre-conditioning and pre-programme your Proace Electric to charge up at night when some energy suppliers offer a reduced tariff.

The Proace Electric is also compatible with very powerful public chargers right up to 100kW, which will give the smaller battery an 80% charge in 30 minutes, or the larger battery an 80% charge in 45 minutes.

Exterior

We were testing the e-Expert 75 kW Auto Icon Medium Panel Van. From the outside, it looks just like the diesel Proace with just a couple of nods to its electric roots, namely the word electric on the front sides and rear door and of course, the charging port located on the left-hand side front wing.

Interior

Inside, you are greeted by a car-like set up which is finished in decent quality plastics. The dashboard is dominated by the Pro Touch 7” Colour touchscreen, while the general layout of buttons, switches and steering wheel controls, are all logically located and easy to reach. You’ll need to enter the touchscreen for most functions, but the set-up is very intuitive.

There’s a total of 49-litres of storage space around the cabin, including large door bins, two glove boxes on the passenger side and an A4 sized covered compartment on top of the dash, plus dash-top drinks holders.

Our test van featured a bulkhead with a hatch, allowing an additional 1160mm of load length to fit into the cargo area and into the front rear left passenger footwell. There was also a double-seat folding front bench with under seat storage for the charging cables, which come in tidy black zip up bags.

The Proace Electric features a USB up front, as well as a12v socket. We connected our iPhone via cable to set up Apple CarPlay and utilised this to make and receive hands-free phone calls, listen to podcasts on the iPhone and access Google Maps.

On the road

All models use an auto gear change with 3 driving settings, Power, Normal and Eco, with each offering slightly different amounts of power. Power is best when you are carrying heavy load, Normal works well for every day use and Eco reduces the power output and the vans heating/cooling capability, to give you an increased battery range, perfect for a fat motorway run.

Couple the Eco drive mode with the van’s built-in B regenerative braking and you can add range to your Proace Electric, especially in slow moving traffic or on roads with plenty of traffic lights and roundabouts, where the van slows down and the brake regeneration will kick in.

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Proace Electric is a range-busting star on the urban circuit

Toyota is still the tried and trusted option – but now with an exciting modern twist

Simone Duncan, Western Toyota

With 17 years of experience with Eastern Western Motor Group, I have had quite a bit of exposure to and involvement with a few manufacturers.

For the past nine years I have worked with the pioneers of full hybrid vehicle technology in Toyota and Lexus and watched the brand grow from the mundane but safe and logical choice of vehicle to the sleek and exciting, yet still as safe and logical choice.

Here at Western Toyota, our absolute commitment to the best customer service, coupled with Toyota’s market leading technology has seen our Business Centre grow from strength to strength and we proudly look after a number of three figure fleets.

Across the UK we are seeing LowEmmission Zones being introduced but more locally to us in Edinburgh we will see the first Zone up and running as soon as spring next year. The ramifications of this has many businesses and tradesmen turning their head towards our new Electric Proace EV and wanting to learn a bit more about how they run, how to apply for the governement grant and how this will ensure they aren’t facing any loss of business in or around these LEZ’s.

The new all electric Toyota Proace EV is proving to be an increasingly popular choice in the van world and it’s not hard to understand why with ever increasing fuel prices and the ongoing expansion of low-emmission zones• Up to 205 miles range, with the 75 kWh Proace Electric, you can travel up to 205 miles on a single charge • Save on fuel and maintenance, cheaper electricty and a simple maintenance schedule helps your business save on every job • Government grants: Avoid congestion and emissions charges and get up to £6,000 from government grants • Fast charge in 32 minutes: the Proace Electric can be charged using public charge points. When plugging into a rapid (100kw) charger, the 50kWh battery can be charged to 80% in 32 minutes. • Choice of power: the Proace Electric comes in two versions, the 50kWh and the 75kWh

• Zero emissions while driving. Running without fossil fuels, the Proace Electric produces no harmful CO2 emissions or NOx gases at the tailpipe while driving • Comes with the Toyota relax, unrivalled ten year warranty (T&C’s apply)

For more information or to arrange a test drive please contact Simone Duncan Business Centre Manager Western Toyota sduncan@westerntoyota.co.uk 01313331333

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There is 260Nms of torque on tap, so the Proace feels rapid. Top speed is limited to 80mph with a 0-62 mph time of 13.3 seconds in Power mode. The ride doesn’t feel too harsh and the battery, which is located underneath the loadspace, doesn’t make the van feel cumbersome. Driving in Eco mode at up to speeds of 50mph, a return of one mile of distance travelled to one mile of battery range is definitely possible. However, if you drive your electric Proace at over 60 mph, with a passenger and load, then the battery range drops. In order to conserve the battery range, it’s best to stick to speeds of 60mph and make sure you’re utilising the B regeneration mode.

Servicing and Warranty

24 months warranty is included with every Proace Service, up to 100,000 miles or 10 years, whichever comes first, giving you a chance to relax in the knowledge that you and your vehicle are in safe hands.

Positives

You’ll find that filling your electric Proace will cost around a quarter to a fifth of the price of the diesel you would need to travel the same distance, especially if you utilise cheaper charging tariffs at night. The 205-mile range is top of the class. Electric vans also have fewer moving parts, so less maintenance and cheaper servicing is a given. Furthermore, the electric Proace offers the same load space as a diesel Proace and all Icon versions come well equipped. And, of course, you’re reducing your CO2 emissions to zero!

Negatives

Electric vans are currently more expensive to buy then their diesel counterparts. Having said that, the Proace Electric is cheaper then similar electric vans on offer elsewhere and has bigger range. As far as range goes, mitigating factors such as temperature and road conditions will reduce the battery range. If you drive in Eco mode while utilising B regen then we’d say 180 miles is very achievable.

CC&V VERDICT

As far as electric vans go in 2021, the Proace Electric is currently as good as it gets. Look long and hard at your CV fleet and see if all of their vans are being driven long distances all of the time. If not, then the excellent range offered by the Proace Electric, coupled to its tax saving zero emissions and cheaper running costs, should make the decision to change some, or all, of your vans to electric that much easier.

CC&V RATING:

N N N N