The diesel LDV Deliver 9 from China has swiftly become Australia’s top-selling large van, eclipsing the Mercedes-Benz Sprinter on the charts in 2022 due to keen pricing.
But some fleet operators – particularly those offering last-mile delivery services – want to broaden their range of load-luggers and give some electric ones a go.
Popular in Europe and China they may be, but EV vans are sparse in Australia.
Yet this is changing, with the Ford E-Transit (early 2023), Mercedes-Benz eSprinter (2024), and Renault Master E-Tech (also 2024) all on their way.
However it’s LDV striking the early blow in the large van market with the eDeliver 9, tapping China’s ongoing global dominance in all things EV.
The company says its electric load-carrier is “aimed squarely at sole traders, SMEs, transport companies and corporate fleets who want to reduce their environmental footprint”, and cites its “whisper quiet progress [and] reduced maintenance costs”.
“From an operational perspective, the eDeliver 9 demands little, if any, compromise from the fleet operator,” claims LDV general manager Dinesh Chinnappa.
“The location of the battery under the floor has ensured zero impact on the cargo space. There has been no reduction in cubic capacity or disruption to the flat floor space, so our launch range is optimised for urban logistics with no compromise on capabilities.”
Pricing
There is one major compromise however: price. It’s far cheaper to charge a van at base than fill it with diesel, yet the upfront cost is steep.
LDV eDeliver 9 prices
- Cab chassis 65kWh: $99,990
- Van mid roof: $116,537
- Van high roof: $118,836
Before on-road costs
Consider that the LDV Deliver 9 diesel van range costs between $43,490 and $46,990 drive-away for ABN holders, while the diesel cab-chassis models cost between $44,990 and $46,990.
Despite the price, Mr Chinnappa contends “there is an undoubted appetite for commercial application EVs”, citing IKEA as a customer.
Drivetrain
The eDeliver 9 is powered by a 150kW and 310Nm permanent magnet synchronous motor driving the front wheels (front-wheel drive is standard), linked to Power, Normal and Eco drive settings.
Vans are powered by the electricity stored in a 88.5kWh lithium iron phosphate battery pack, offering a claimed maximum WLTP driving range of 275-280km depending of roof height.
The cab chassis has a smaller 65kWh battery and thereby a reduced range, claimed as 150km with a large box fitted. But these cab-chassis models have myriad applications.
According to LDV an 11kW charge at an AC wallbox with Type 2 port will fill the 88.5kWh battery in about 12 hours on a single-phase setup, or 8 hours on a three-phase.
Times for the cab chassis with the smaller 65kWh battery are listed as 11 hours (single-phase) and 6.5 hours (three-phase).
An 80kW charge on a DC charger is claimed to take the eDeliver 9 vans from 20 per cent charged to 80 per cent in about 45 minutes, or 36 minutes for the cab chassis.
Vans have a rated towing capacity of 1500kg, while the cab chassis is rated at 1200kg. All have top speeds limited to just 90km/h.
Key figures
- Power: 150kW
- Torque: 310Nm
- Top speed: 90km/h
- Range claim: 150km (cab chassis) or 280km (van)
- Battery: 65kWh (cab chassis) or 88.5kWh (van)
- Towing: 1200kg – 1500kg
Efficiency
The range is based on claimed electricity consumption of around 34kWh per 100km for the van, with the cab chassis not listed due to it being heavily contingent on what type of body is installed.
Dimensions and loads
Vans
Both eDeliver 9 vans are LWB models measuring 5940mm long, 2062mm wide, on a 3760mm wheelbase. The Mid Roof is 2545mm tall and the High Roof is 2765mm tall.
Both have turning circles of 14.8m.
The cargo area length in both is 3413mm, and the width is 1800mm (1366mm between the wheel arches). The Mid Roof’s cargo area height is 1802mm while the High Roof’s is 2019mm.
Cargo volumes are listed as 10.97 cubic-metres (Mid Roof) and 12.33m3 (High Roof).
Both have rear door opening widths of 1570mm, and a sliding side door measuring 1269mm wide by 1570mm tall.
The vans have GWMs of 4050kg which equate to payloads of 1350kg (High Roof) or 1410kg (Mid Roof).
The suspension layout comprises MacPherson struts at the front and leaf springs at the rear. It has disc brakes all round (plus regenerative braking) and an electric power steering system.
Cab chassis
The eDeliver 9 Cab Chassis measures 6680mm long, 2052mm wide, 2315mm tall, and sits on a 4048mm wheelbase.
The turning circle is 15.8m.
The cargo area sizes are dependent on the final body fitted, but the GVM is 4050kg, the rear axle capacity 2350kg, and payload is 1960kg.
The suspension layout comprises MacPherson struts at the front and leaf springs at the rear. It has disc brakes all round (plus regenerative braking) and an electric power steering system.
Servicing and warranty
The eDeliver 9’s warranty is five years or 160,000km (whichever comes first), with roadside assist. However the battery gets an eight-year/160,000km battery warranty.
Servicing intervals are long: every two years or 30,000km.
Safety
- Driver and passenger front airbags
- Driver and passenger side airbags
- Curtain airbags
- Autonomous emergency braking
- Adaptive cruise control
- Lane-departure warning
- Front and rear parking sensors (van)
- Front parking sensors (cab chassis)
- Tyre pressure monitoring system
Standard equipment
Exterior and cargo area
- 16-inch alloy wheels
- Full-size spare
- Powered and heated side mirrors
- Single passenger’s side sliding door
- 236-degree rear barn doors
- Integrated rear step
- Non slip entry steps – side and rear
- Tie-down points (8)
- Non-slip rubberised flooring
- LED illuminated rear cargo area
Interior
- Air conditioning
- Power windows
- 4.2-inch LCD trip computer
- Eight-way driver’s seat with fold down armrest
- Bench seat for two passengers
- Under-seat storage
- Fold-down middle passenger seat back with cup and laptop holder
- Overhead storage compartments
- Driver and passenger door bins
- 10.1 inch touchscreen
- Apple CarPlay
- USB ports x 2
- FM/AM/DAB/Bluetooth
- Reversing camera
Colours
- Blanc White
- River Blue
