For the uninitiated, “commercial vehicles” aren’t cars that star in TV ads. What the term refers to are any vehicles designed to transport multiple passengers or carry goods, and they typically come in the form of a van or a ute/pick-up truck.
There has, as you’ll have noticed, been a huge shift toward electric vehicles and hybrids of late, as the world moves away from diesel and petrol-powered vehicles that cause harmful carbon emissions, and while that has mostly impacted the passenger-car segment, EV commercial vehicles have also begun to emerge.
With some countries in Europe already focusing on getting all diesel-powered vehicles off the road, which includes a large proportion of commercial vehicles, the pressure to shift to zero-emission power plants is on.
Read more about electric commercial vehicles
Along with government fleets, corporate fleets – which includes any company that uses the humble delivery van as its main form of transportation – make up almost 50 per cent of new-vehicle sales, which means the introduction of EVs could have a hugely beneficial impact on the sector in terms of emissions and savings in fuel.
A number of vehicle manufacturers are planning to release electric commercial vehicles in Australia from this year onwards, with a few already available on the Australian market.
There’s no word yet on hybrid vans hitting Down Under, but a number of hybrid utes are expected to be rolled out in the not-too-distant future to join the ranks of commercial electric cars.
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Here are the commercial electric vehicles available for sale in Australia and a few models that are coming soon.
Renault Kangoo Z.E.
Price: From $50,390, plus on-road costs
Launched in Australia in 2020, the Kangoo Z.E. (“Zero Emission”), from French car manufacturer Renault, is the first electric van in Australia. And even though it’s still relatively new to the marketplace, the compact van is already getting an overhaul and a rebranding, and will be known as the “Kangoo E-Tech” from early 2023 onwards. The 33kWh battery will provide around 200km of real-world driving range. Inside, four cubic-metres of space will be able to take up to 650kg of payload.
BYD T3
Price: From $34,950, plus on-road costs
Made by Chinese car company BYD (“Build Your Dreams”), the small two-seater T3 van is currently available in Australia in limited numbers at a price that currently makes it Australia’s cheapest EV. A 50.3kWh battery provides 300km of driving range, and the 70kW/180Nm electric motor can push it to a top speed of 100km/h. Cargo space is 3.8 cubic-metres, and the maximum payload is 700kg. An electric ute from BYD is also in the works.
Skywell EC11
Price: From $89,990, plus on-road costs
This large cargo van from Chinese company Skywell is the only 4.5-tonne all-electric van available in Australia and comes with a a 1.7-tonne load capacity. There are two variants: the e-cargo high-roof cargo van and the 12-seater e-crew. Estimated driving range is 288km and there’s almost 12 cubic metres of load space. Towing capacity is 1250kg braked and 450kg unbraked.
SEA 300 EV
Price: TBC
Melbourne EV company SEA Electric, now based in California, has begun production on locally produced electric light and medium-duty trucks with a number of payload, wheelbase and body-length options, ranging from 4.5-tonne through to 22.5-tonne three-axle trucks. The entry-level SEA 300-45 can be driven by anyone with a basic driver’s licence and an 88kWh battery supports an unladen driving range of up to 300km. The payload capacity is 2 tonnes and outputs are 134kW/700Nm.
Telsa Cybertruck
Price: TBC
Telsa has been hyping up its pointy, futuristic-looking pick-up truck for what feels like forever, and that’s how long Australian drivers may have to wait to see one on our roads. The latest rumblings suggest the Cybertruck might not be sold in Australia at all, with Telsa no longer taking deposits for the vehicle here. It will be a shame if it never arrives, as the Cybertruck’s specs are impressive: 800km of driving range for the tri-motor version, a 6.35-tonne towing capacity, and the ability to go from zero to 100km/h in 3.0 seconds. The latest news is that it’s set to go into production in early 2023.
Ford E-Transit
Price: TBC
Ford’s first-ever electric van will arrive in Australia in late-2022, with a 68kWh battery offering around 317km of driving range. Cargo capacity is up to 12.4 cubic metres and maximum payload is 1616kg. Peak outputs are 198kW and 430Nm and fast-charging will get the battery from 15 per cent to 80 per cent in around 34 minutes. A smaller Ford e-Transit Custom van will arrive in 2024 with a target driving range of 380km.
Mercedes-Benz eVito, eVito Tourer and EQV
Price: TBC
Mercedes-Benz is going large by introducing not one, but three electric vans by the end of 2022: the mid-size eVito panel van with a range of 314km, an eVito Tourer (basically an electric version of its Valente van, with 360km driving range), and the EQV van, which has a 356km driving range and a top speed of 160km/h. Another electric van, the eSprinter, will arrive in 2024.
Rivian R1T
Price: TBC
Although an Australian release won’t happen until at least 2024, this powerhouse truck from American start-up Rivian will come with a 180kWh battery and driving range of 644km, as well as a five-tonne towing capacity.
Toyota Hilux EV
Price: TBC
Although not confirmed by Toyota yet, both an EV and hybrid version of its popular Hilux ute are heavily rumoured to be in the works.
ACE Cargo, V1 Transformer and Yewt
Price: From $29,995, $55,995, and $25,995, plus on-road costs
Aussie start-up Ace is claiming it’s set to offer three light commercial vehicles by the end of 2022: the modular V1 Transformer, which comes as a van or a ute (215-258km driving range at partial load, and maximum payload of 1100kg), the Cargo compact van, and the Yewt compact ute (both with 150-200km driving range at partial load, and maximum payload of 500kg).