Electric vans: Are they worth leasing and which ones are available?

Electric vans are spearheading the electrified revolution. What was once a haven for the grumbling diesel is now a place for silent, eco-friendly options too. 

There’s a growing catalogue of battery-powered choices to pick from – with Ford, Renault and Mercedes-Benz just a few of the big names pushing for cleaner, greener transportation. 

But are electric vans worth leasing? 

Are Electric Vans Worth Leasing? 

Whether an electric van is worth leasing depends on what you need it for. 

In the beginning, they were only really suitable for shorter journeys with smaller payloads. Couriers delivering parcels around town, for example. 

But as battery technology has developed, that’s changed somewhat. Smaller all-electric vans are better, and now there’s also a growing number of big van options. 

Most battery-powered vans still come with smaller payloads than their internal combustion counterparts. But because of fewer mechanics, they also often provide more space, so your volume capacity is higher. 

However, for distance, the electric van still isn’t there yet. For example, the Renault Master ZE only runs 124 miles on a full charge – which, of course, takes a little longer to refill than a diesel version. 

If that’s no good, there are several plug-in hybrid vans available, all of which combine the benefits of both fossil and future fuel. 

But, if you’re not covering hundreds of miles every day, electrified motoring may be a cheaper, more cost-effective and greener way to go about your business. 

Which Electric Vans Can I Lease? 

As time goes by, more and more vehicle manufacturers are diving into electrified motoring – including vans. 

Now, you have vans of all shapes and sizes, ready to push you into the future with battery power.

So, let’s talk through a few of your options. 

Renault Kangoo ZE

The Renault Kangoo ZE is a dominant force in the city van space. It comes with 120 miles of real-world range – 70 miles more than the old model – and a few upgrades compared to the diesel version. 

As standard with the ZE, you get a 7kW fast-charging port to help keep time off the road to a minimum, as well as 60bhp electric motor. 

There’s also upgraded steel wheels as standard and an interior pre-heat function for those cold winter mornings. 

The Kangoo ZE comes in three different forms, the standard version, a long-wheel-base model and a crew cab alternative with space for up to five. 

Its loading area is up to 4.6 cubic metres and comes with a payload of 640kg. 

Nissan e-NV200

The Nissan e-NV200 is an interesting electric van. Not only is it battery-powered, but its unconventional shape makes it slightly more advantageous to some of its competitors.

On the face of it, it looks like a regular city van. But with a slightly higher roof, it allows for a greater volume load than most in its class. 

The e-NV200 comes in three formats – the standard van, a five-seat combi, or a five or seven-seat people carrier. 

It doesn’t have the highest range in its class, but its batteries are more than good enough to go 100 miles of real-world driving on a single charge. 

In the back, there’s room enough for 4.2 cubic metres of volume, and it comes with a 658kg payload. 

Renault Master ZE

The Renault Master ZE is the French company’s contribution to the big electric van market. 

Using knowledge from their brilliant Kangoo ZE, Renault has installed a 76bhp electric motor underneath the big carrier. It doesn’t sound a lot, and you shouldn’t expect raw speed, but it’s enough to get the job done. 

Its official range figures sit at 124 miles, although in the real world that’s likely to be less. 

But what the Master ZE does have is a respectable 1100kg payload capacity. And the load volumes remain the same as the diesel version – so, they range from eight cubic metres to 13. 

When choosing your Renault, you have the choice of either panelled or platform cab, with the latter providing a larger 1370kg payload and a conversion capacity to carry up to 19 cubic metres of volume. 

Other Electric Van Options

The three options above only scratch the surface of what’s available on the electric van market – and what will soon be on sale.  

Ford recently announced that a fully-electric version of the famous Transit van will arrive in 2022 with 212 miles of range a 1616kg payload. 

While Mercedes-Benz also provides the eVito and eSprinter, with the all-electric range on offer sitting at 93 and 83 miles respectively. 

And, of course, if you’re not ready to go fully electric yet, there are plug-in hybrid options, such as the Ford Transit and Ford Tourneo.