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 government's 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 goals is that all light vans will be electric from 2025. Light vans are described as vans with a curb weight of less than 1685 kg. This 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). The other models had batteries that were far too small at the time. Popular van manufacturers such as Ford, Toyota and Volkswagen did not have any electric vans in the light van category . Their efforts were focused on heavier vehicles such as the Transit Custom, Proace and ID.Buzz.

Range and payload

Batteries steal both space and payload – a problem that becomes more apparent the smaller the vans are. Now the range of light vans is being supplemented. The ranges of these light vans are a long way from what we consider long range for passenger cars , but they match up quite well with what other small cars have.

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 equivalent petrol and diesel models. For light vans, the opposite is true. Here, diesel models are cheaper to purchase *). The only real advantages that can 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 would really give a boost to sales would have been if electric vans with green plates were allowed to drive in public transport lanes.

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 that the incentives to choose electric are too weak. The benefits of buying an electric van compared to a diesel-powered van are too small. For many van users, it may 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 several rows of seats, which pickup truck owners can benefit from. In the 1960s, it was not uncommon to have a rear seat in vans. This may come back – and can provide flexible use of vans. The pictures show a campaign model marketed in England a few years ago. The Volkswagen Transporter Lifestyle Express (TDI) is a van with 2 rows of seats that in Norway could be registered as a Class 1 Van. Perhaps the lack of incentives for choosing 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