Vauxhall’s Vivaro-e flagship electric van is now on sale, priced from £28,361 OTR (excl VAT and incl PiVG).
Part of the brand’s ongoing electrification plans – which will see the brand offer an electrified version of every passenger car and LCV model by 2024 – it’s Vauxhall’s first factory-built, fully electric van and a sister model to the Citroën ë-Dispatch and the Peugeot e-Expert. All of them are based on the EMP2 multi-energy platform, but with styling and trim changes to distinguish the trio from each other.
Already on order for British Gas in a deal said to mark the largest commercial battery electric vehicle order in the UK to date, the Vivaro-e starts first deliveries in October. As announced in April, it will have a 205-mile WLTP-rated range along with a 1,226kg payload; said to be best in class. It will also be able to tow up to one tonne, with Vauxhall claiming this as a first in the electric LCV segment, load volume is the same as the internal combustion engine Vivaro
The Vivaro-e will be available in two trim levels, Dynamic and Elite, two lengths, L1H1 and L2H1, and two bodies, comprising van and double cab.
The 136hp electric motor produces 260Nm of torque. Two battery sizes are available. The 50kW offers 144 miles of all-electric range in WLTP conditions, including ½ payload. The larger 75kW battery offers 205 miles of range.
It features an automatic transmission with e-toggle shift and drivers can choose between three driving modes – Power, Normal and Eco – depending on whether they want increased performance for heavier loads, optimised for daily use or lowest energy consumption.
It comes with 100kW charging capability as standard, enabling rapid charging of the 50kW battery from zero to 80% in 32 minutes and the larger battery in 48 minutes. The onboard 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.
Standard equipment on the entry-level Dynamic version include full-height steel bulkhead, nearside and offside sliding side-access doors with twin solid rear doors, dual front passengers’ bench seat with underseat storage and six-way adjustable driver’s seat with lumbar adjustment and armrest. Tech features bring a 3.5-inch digital instrument cluster, the Vauxhall Connect box, multimedia infotainment unit with 7-inch colour touchscreen, digital radio/AM/FM stereo radio, Bluetooth connectivity and steering wheel-mounted audio and phone controls.
It also features cruise control, speed limiter, electric parking brake, electronic stability programme with traction control, ABS with electronic brakeforce distribution, hill start assist and driver and front passengers’ airbag, plus a driver drowsiness alert.
Elite versions add in a number of extra features, such as the FlexCargo load-through bulkhead, fold-flat centre seat backrest, multimedia Navi Pro satellite navigation system with 7-inch colour touchscreen, 3.5-inch colour information display with head-up display, panoramic rear-view camera, lane departure warning and speed sign recognition with intelligent speed adaptation. Prices rise to £39,811.66 (excl VAT and incl PiVG) for the L2H1 Elite Doublecab 3100 version with 75kWh battery.
