Volkswagen’s first all-electric van is now on sale in the UK, bringing up to 82 miles of zero-emission range and targeting urban fleets.
Priced at £42,060 (exc. VAT), the ABT eTransporter 6.1 has been developed in partnership with ABT e-Line – an EV-focused subsidiary of German motor racing and tuning firm ABT Sportsline – and is exempt from road tax (VED) while also opening up unrestricted access to the London Ultra Low Emission Zone and the UK’s forthcoming Clean Air Zones.
Offered as a panel van and as a kombi crew model, it features an 110hp electric motor along with a 37.3kWh battery fitted underneath the load area to avoid compromising the cargo area; the eTransporter offers 6.7m3 and payload of up to 1,001kg.
Charging can be carried out up to 50kW DC using a CCS connector, giving an 80% charge within around 45 minutes.
It also supports AC charging up to 7.2kW, which can be done by using a wallbox, charging the battery in approximately 5.5 hours.
It’s fitted with regenerative braking and also comes with a modified DSG dual-clutch transmission, which delivers 75% of motor power in Drive (‘D’) but with a kickdown function providing 100% power and torque, maximising performance.
Two trims are offered; a basic model and an Advance trim. Pricing for the ABT eTransporter 6.1 Panel van starts from £42,060 (exc. VAT) with the Advance trim from £45,360 (exc. VAT). The kombi crew van and kombi crew van Advance are priced from £46,375 (exc. VAT) and £49,985 (exc. VAT), respectively.
The basic model comes with a DAB+ radio system with 6.5-inch touchscreen and four loudspeakers, SD card slot, Bluetooth handsfree and two USB interfaces (type-C) in the dashboard.
Volkswagen AppConnect, which allows you to bring smartphone apps onto your infotainment system’s touchscreen, is also standard alongside a number of driver assistance systems, including Front Assist with City Emergency Braking System, rear parking sensors and Crosswind Assist.
Advance trim adds in 17-inch alloy wheels, electrically foldable door mirrors, automatic LED headlights, rain-sensing windscreen wipers, heated windshield, auto-dimming rear-view mirror and front and rear parking sensors.
