Vauxhall eVivaro

Vivaro-e offers a package tailor-made for urban life

• Priced from £27,723 exc VAT and after Plugged-in Van Grant • All-electric, zero-emission with a choice of 50kWh or 75kWh • Up to 205-mile electric range • 48 minutes to 80% with rapid charging

Vauxhall’s Vivaro-e, its first factory-built, fully-electric van, has arrived in the UK – well, it was built here! – at a perfect time for fleets, as more cities look to put in place emissions-free vehicle zones.

One of the first companies to see the benefits of the Vivaro-e is British Gas, which has ordered 1,000 vans – the largest commercial BEV (battery electric vehicle) order in the UK to date.

The all-electric Vauxhall Vivaro-e comes in two trim levels, Dynamic and Elite, two lengths, L1H1 and L2H1, two bodies, Van and Double Cab, and two battery sizes, 50kWh and 75kWh.

It is based on the EMP2 multi-energy platform with exactly the same load volume ability as the internal combustion engine Vivaro. Payload is best in class, up to 1226kg, and, uniquely in the market for all-electric LCVs, Vivaro-e is capable of towing up to one tonne.

The electric motor produces 136hp (100kW) with a powerful 260Nm of torque, and two battery sizes are available. The 50kW offers 144 miles of all-electric range in WLTP conditions (this includes half payload), while the larger 75kW battery offers 205 miles of range. With an average annual fleet mileage of 20,000 miles, both battery sizes can easily cope with the daily weekday mileage of 76 miles.

Drivers can select one of three driving modes, Power, Normal and Eco depending on their requirement respectively: increased performance for heavier loads, optimised for daily use or lowest energy consumption. 100kW charging capability is available as standard enabling rapid charging of the 50kW battery from zero to 80 per cent in 32 minutes and the larger battery in just 48 minutes. The on board charger is 7.4kW with three-phase 11kW available as an option.

Connected services are available via MyVauxhall App including remote charging, with the ability to defer charging, and cabin temperature pre-conditioning.

With the emphasis on the powertrain it would be easy to overlook the specification – but you shouldn’t. Even on the entry Dynamic model you will find a comprehensive list of kit: Automatic transmission with e-toggle shift; electric parking brake; electronic stability programme with traction control; ABS with electronic brakeforce distribution; hill start assist; driver and front passengers’ airbag; and

remote control central deadlocking.

In addition there is a multi-function trip computer with 3.5-inch digital instrument cluster, and a multimedia infotainment unit with 7-inch colour touchscreen, Digital radio/AM/ FM stereo radio, Bluetooth® connectivity and steering wheel mounted audio and phone controls.

Access to the load area is via either a nearside and offside sliding side-access doors with twin solid rear doors. Elite versions add FlexCargo load-through bulkhead, a driver drowsiness alert and panoramic rear-view camera, among other items.

The payload ranges from 1,000kg on the L1H1 Elite Panel Van 3100 with 75kWh battery, rising to 1,226kg on the L1H1 Dynamic Panel Van 3100 with 50kWh

Recharging with a rapid charger is as quick as just over half an hour to 80 per cent for the 50kWh, 48 minutes on the bigger battery.

This is a huge adantage over a conventional domestic socket, which can be as high as 42 hours! Even with a standard wallbox, recharging is over seven hours – which underlines the need for a rapid charge to be installed in your workplace.

Vauxhall’s Vivaro-e continues the brand’s electrification offensive. With the next allelectric LCV, the Combo-e, arriving next year, Vauxhall will offer an electrified version of every passenger car and LCV model by 2024.