What's the difference?
Sole traders, SMEs, transport companies and corporate fleets are potential customers LDV is aiming at with its new eDeliver7 electric van range, which competes in Australia’s mid-sized (2.5-3.5-tonne GVM) commercial van segment.
The Chinese manufacturer claims the eDeliver7’s combination of quiet operation, reduced maintenance costs, no battery impact on cargo space and, critically, more competitive pricing is ideal for businesses looking to build ‘sustainable’ fleets.
As the number of battery electric van offerings continues to grow, we recently spent a week in one of the new eDeliver7 variants to see if it can offer a viable alternative to diesel powertrains that traditionally dominate this competitive market segment.
You might call it six degrees of Kombi separation. Somewhere, somehow just about all of us have a VW bus lurking in our family and friends' back story. And this is the latest version of that familiar box on wheels to hit the Aussie market.
It’s the premium, sportier, AWD GTX version of the pure-electric Volkswagen ID.Buzz.
This one-box wonder hits the retro-futurist ball out of the park and we attended its local launch to explore whether what’s under the skin supports the promise of its stunning exterior.
There’s room for improvement, but that room is getting smaller. For urban daily fleet or solo operation, using the convenience of back-to-base overnight charging, it offers a compelling alternative to diesel in terms of real-world driving range, performance, payload, warranty/servicing costs... and zero tailpipe emissions.
The only way to make this car cooler would be to add a split fold-out windscreen and a tube steel luggage rack on the roof.
It’s fast, super practical, comfortable and guaranteed to put a smile on the face of premium family buyers ready to go for something different. And that smile will extend to just about everyone who lays eyes on it. I love it.
Note: CarsGuide attended this event as a guest of the manufacturer, with travel, accommodation and meals provided.