Citroen is joining the booming electric van market with its new ë-Berlingo, and has confirmed plans to offer all-electric versions of its larger Dispatch and Relay commercial vehicles.
Citroen claims that the ë-Berlingo has been designed for businesses that operate in cities and rural environments (so, everywhere, essentially), and has equipped it with a decently sized 50kWh battery pack to deliver a WLTP range of 171 miles. Given than a large percentage of vans are used for multi-drop ‘final mile’ deliveries in urban areas, this looks like a perfectly workable set-up for a lot of businesses.
Wham, bam, thank you van The ë-Berlingo shares its platform (the floor, battery, motor and lower frame) with the ë-C4 hatchback, so benefits from the same charging tech. This means it can charge at speeds of up to 100kW on a rapid charger – great news for owners who might need to add a few extra miles on a longer delivery journey. Citroen claims that it can achieve an 80% charge in just 30 minutes. Owners can also pre-heat the cabin with the same MyCitroën app that ships with the brand’s all-electric cars, so your delivery driver might be even more chipper when they arrive at your doorstep.
The first right-hand drive versions are scheduled for UK delivery in late Autumn and Citroen has yet to announce pricing - which will be key to its appeal and success. The French brand has also committed to offering new, all-electric versions of its larger models over the next two years. The ë-Dispatch and ë-Relay are all in the pipeline with further details expected later this year.