Eco-friendly and spacious: the 5 best electric vans 2024

From small cars to SUVs, the electric motor is already commonplace. Vans, on the other hand, are still almost exclusively equipped with combustion engines. But that is changing: more and more manufacturers are launching new electric vans on the market. This means that even large families, tradespeople or sports clubs can travel in their cars in an environmentally friendly and emission-free way.

The main advantages of electric vans

Being on the road with an electric van means you don't have to do without almost anything. The space is large, the motors are powerful and new, powerful batteries ensure ranges of up to 400 km on a single battery charge. Thus, they are more than sufficient even for longer journeys.

The most important advantages of e-vans:

• Pollution-free journey
• Quiet motor
• Low operating and maintenance costs
• Plenty of space for passengers and material

In return, e-vans often cannot quite keep up with smaller electric cars in terms of range. This is even more true if you use them for their purpose and load a lot of luggage and material.

Here are the best e-vans you can currently buy in Switzerland.

VW ID.Buzz

The venerable VW bus has arrived in the modern age. What the electric version lacks in nostalgic charm, the ID.Buzz easily makes up for with modern design and bright colors. And nothing stands in the way of longer journeys on holiday thanks to the full range of more than 400 km per battery charge. So you don't have to factor in too many breaks at charging stations if you're planning a longer trip.

Inside, the luggage compartment with a capacity of up to 2,469 l awaits you. Enough storage space, so luggage, sports equipment or whatever else you have to transport. A drop of bitterness, however, is the price. New, the e-Bulli costs more than 70,000 francs.

• Reichweite (WLTP): 416 km
• Batteriekapazität: 77 kWh
• Ladevolumen Kofferraum: 1’121 l –2’469 l
• Verbrauch: 20,9 kWh/100 km
• Motorenleistung: 150 kW/204 PS
• Höchstgeschwindigkeit: 145 km/h
• Preis ab: CHF 73’940.–

Citroën e-Berlingo

Big car at a low price. The Citroën e-Berlingo has a very convincing price-performance ratio with a price starting at only 39,100 francs. For the money, you get an electric van with almost 2,000 liters of cargo volume in the trunk and an average range of 343 km per battery charge.

The French van has to make compromises in terms of engine. With only 100 kW or 136 hp of power, it takes almost 12 seconds from 0 to 100 km/h, and the speedometer stops at 135 km/h at the latest. All in all, the e-Berlingo is still a rock-solid everyday car at a reasonable price – for families and anyone else who often has to transport a little more.

• Range (WLTP): 343 km
• Battery capacity: 50 kWh
• Load volume trunk: 1,953 l
• Consumption: 21.7 kWh/100 km
• Engine power: 100 kW/136 hp
• Top speed: 135 km/h
• Price from: CHF 39'100.–

Mercedes EQV

Bigger, longer, Mercedes EQV. With a length of more than 5 meters and a width of almost 2 meters, you can't complain about too little space in the electric van from Stuttgart. The vehicle offers space for up to 8 people or a maximum trunk volume of over 5,000 l with the benches folded up.

Einzig beim Verbrauch schneidet der EQV schlechter ab als vergleichbare E-Vans. Unterwegs ist dieser Wermutstropfen dank des sanften Fahrwerkes aber schnell wieder vergessen – mit dem Van von Mercedes kannst du die Fahrt auf jeder Strasse voll geniessen. Das hat aber auch seinen Preis: Für einen neuen EQV musst du ab 80’000 Franken hinblättern.

• Reichweite (WLTP): 326 km
• Batteriekapazität: 60 kWh
• Ladevolumen Kofferraum: 610 – 5’010 l
• Verbrauch: 27,1 kWh/100 km
• Motorenleistung: 150 kW/204 PS
• Höchstgeschwindigkeit: 140 km/h
• Preis ab: CHF 80’600.–

Fiat Doblò

Rectangular, practical, good! The compact electric van from Turin cannot quite keep up with the luxurious competitor models in terms of design. However, the Doblò with electric motor fulfils its purpose perfectly. Because although it is rather short for a van at 4.4 meters, you have an enormous amount of storage space inside the five-seater. With the row of seats folded down, the trunk volume is a whopping 4,416 l.

Thanks to the sliding doors on the side, loading and unloading luggage, strollers and more is very easy. However, the Fiat Doblò shows a weakness in terms of endurance. It doesn't manage 300 km before a charging stop becomes mandatory. For just over 40,000 francs, however, you can't really complain about it.

• Range (WLTP): 280 km
• Battery capacity: 50 kWh
• Load volume trunk: 775 – 4,416 l
• Consumption: 18.3 kWh/100 km
• Engine power: 100 kW/136 hp
• Top speed: 135 km/h
• Price from: CHF 42'490.–

Toyota Proace City Verso Electric

The electric van from Toyota is the ideal family car with 5 to 7 seats and a generous trunk. Thanks to the sliding doors on both sides, getting in and out of the rear seat is particularly convenient.

The battery can be recharged at a fast charging station with direct current within just 24 minutes. With such charging times, the rather short range of 281 km hardly plays a role on long trips to the holidays.

• Range (WLTP): 281 km
• Battery capacity: 50 kWh
• Load volume trunk: 1,355 l
• Consumption: 19.7 kWh/100 km
• Engine power: 100 kW/134 hp
• Top speed: 135 km/h
• Price from: CHF 46'500.–