Volkswagen Crafter electric van gets UK debut

Volkswagen vans gave a UK debut to the Volkswagen Crafter electric van (eCrafter) at the CV Show 2018, whilst also offering the opportunity for customers to test drive should they wish!

New Volkswagen eCrafter at the CV Show 2018

Volkswagen vans are putting the eCrafter van to the test in real world trials, with four UK companies taking part in the trails: Gatwick Airport, Heathrow Airport, City of London Corporation and the London Borough of Southwark. Volkswagen vans have promised to take all feedback from the trials on board before the van joins the UK market in September.

Meticulous approach from Volkswagen vans

Head of sales operations at Volkswagen vans, James Douglas explained the approach to test the new electric van in real world fleets, stating: "Volkswagen is not a brand to bring a product to the market and then test it." The brand state that the new Volkswagen eCrafter van is designed for customers whose vans travel between approximately 40 and 60-plus miles on a daily basis, which can sometimes mean a number of stops and starts along the way.

Tailored for city operations

Volkswagen vans boast that the parameters above are applicable to around 85% of the journeys made in an urban setting, according to their analysis of over 210,000 driving profiles with in excess of 1,500 customers. They believe that the new electric Volkswagen Crafter van is perfect for city operations, with a 100kW output meaning a NEDC (New European Driving Cycle) range of approximately 100 miles and a 56mph limited top speed.

Load carrying ability

The standard Volkswagen eCrafter van which was on display has a load capacity of 10.7 cubic metres and a payload of 1-tonne, Volkswagen vans were quick to point out however that there will be a model capable of carrying up to 1.75-tonnes in the new van range. In just 45 minutes the new electric van can be fast charged to 80 percent, whilst it takes approximately 5.5 hours to fully charge the eCrafter from a wallbox.

Raising of permissible weight limit of electric vans

James Douglas also lauded the pending increase of the permissible weight limit of electric vans from 3.5-tonnes to 4.25 tonnes, that van drivers with a standard UK driving licence can drive the eCrafter with a weight of 4.2-tonnes with a payload present. Douglas commented: "It's vital for operational feasibility, there is always a need for maximising possibility. A balance needs to be struck between weight, payload and range."

Volkswagen vans on finance

It's still a while before the Volkswagen eCrafter joins the UK market, however at Vansdirect we have all of the current Volkswagen vans range available, we also have electric vans available if that's what you are looking for. We have a huge range of brand new vans in stock from all of the major new van manufacturers and a range of cheap van finance options including van leasing, contract hire and hire purchase. Looking for a new van? Simply fill in a contact form or call us on 0800 169 69 95 and we'll get the ball rolling with a free no obligation quote, we also offer cars!