New light electric vans make it easier to choose electric, but are the support schemes good enough? Is the range usable? And did you know that electric vans are more expensive than those that run on diesel?
The authorities' program to encourage car buyers to choose electric has been a clear success for passenger cars. For vans, however, the situation is not as good. One of the electric car targets is that all light vans must be electric from 2025. Light vans are described as vans with a net weight of less than 1685 kg. It includes models such as the Volkswagen Caddy, Ford Courier and Opel Combo, to name a few.
Limited selection
If we look back 3-4 years, the selection of light, electric vans was not very large. When the authorities in this country set sales targets for light vans, there were very few usable models to choose from. Models with acceptable battery capacity were the Nissan E-NV200 (40 kwh) and the newcomers Maxus Deliver 3 (50,2 kwh) and BYD ETP3 (44,9 kwh). At the time, the other models had far too small batteries. Popular van manufacturers such as Ford, Toyota and Volkswagen had no electric vans in the category light vans. Their investment was focused on heavier cars such as Transit Custom, Proace and ID.Buzz.
Range and payload
The batteries steal both space and payload – a problem that becomes more apparent the smaller the vans are. The selection of light vans is now being supplemented. The ranges for these light vans are a long way from what we consider a long range passenger cars, but they match pretty well what other small cars have.
| New light vans | Battery capacity | Range |
|---|---|---|
| Citroen E-Berlingo | 50 kWh | 320 km |
| Ford e-Transit Courier | 43 kWh | 288 km |
| nissan townstar | 45 kWh | 285 km |
| Opel Combo | 40 kWh | 345 km |
| Peugeot E-Partner | 50 kWh | 330 km |
| Renault Kangoo | 45 kWh | 285 km |
| Toyota Proace City | 45 kWh | 343 km |
Citroën Ë-Berlingo in renewed edition.
VAT rules for van class 2
If you buy an electric van with green plates (class 2), you must pay 25% VAT from the first kroner, while electric passenger cars are exempt from VAT on the first NOK 500.000. Businesses can get their VAT back and they also get the opportunity to deduct VAT on current expenses related to running the van - regardless of whether it runs on electricity or diesel. But deductions are only given for professional driving - no driving between home and workplace or other private errands.
We have become used to vans being cheaper than cars. But that does not apply to electric cars. Here, vans are just as expensive as corresponding passenger cars. The operation of the van can be cheaper - provided that you meet the requirements for professional driving and that the owner is a VAT-registered company. Businesses in health, education and culture have few - or no - financial benefits from buying electric vans with green labels. They could just as well choose a car.
Electric vans are more expensive than diesel vehicles
In Norway, we expect electric models to be cheaper than corresponding petrol and diesel models. For light vans, the opposite is true. Here, the diesel models are cheaper to purchase *). The only real advantages that could entice buyers to choose electric over diesel are cheaper fuel, tolls, ferries and parking. But is that enough to bring a new spring for light electric vans? What like really would have given a boost in sales, would have been if electric vans with green signs were allowed to drive in the public transport lane.
A recent report from the Norwegian Public Roads Administration and the Norwegian Environment Agency highlights measures that can get more van buyers to choose electric, including an increased one-off tax and the removal of VAT deductions for fossil fuel vans, and a national support scheme for the establishment of charging infrastructure. In addition, the benefits of using zero-emission vans are highlighted, such as national exemptions for tolls and ferry fares, as well as access to public transport lanes.
Vans in class 1
So far this year, only 1 in 3 vans is electric. One of the reasons is too poor incentives to choose electric. The advantages of buying an electric van compared to a diesel-powered van are too small. For many van users, it can be just as beneficial to buy a passenger car or a class 1 van. Class 1 vans with white plates follow the same rules as passenger cars with regard to taxes and rights. These vans can be registered without a partition between the passenger compartment and the cargo area - and they can have multiple rows of seats, which pick-up owners can benefit from. In the 1960s, it was not unusual to have a back seat in vans. That can come back - and can provide flexible use of vans. The pictures show a campaign model marketed in England a few years ago. Volkswagen Transporter Lifestyle Express (TDI) is a van with 2 rows of seats which in Norway could be registered as Van class 1. Perhaps a lack of incentives to choose vans with green plates could pave the way for electric vans with rear seats?
*) Price example
Peugeot Partner L1 1,5 BHdi 100hk: 325.500 kr (eks.mva)
Peugeot Partner L1 1,5 BHdi 130hk aut: 359.500 kr (eks.mva)
Peugeot E-Partner L1: 407.925 kr (eks.mva)
Recommended accessories
-- Alle modeller: Varerom kledning vegg og gulv, samt stort vindu i skillevegg
-- E-Partner: 11 kW ombordlader
See
Citroen.no
Opel.no
Peugeot.no
Norwegian Environment Agency Oct. 2024 – Stronger measures for electric vans
