A British importer has launched a new small electric van, which could make plug-in deliveries cost-effective for businesses. 

The snappily-named DFSK EC35 all-electric van is now on sale for £20,999 + VAT, and is backed by a five-year/75,000-mile warranty. This is around £8,000 less than similar small vans from the likes of Citroen and Vauxhall. 

Powered by a 39kWh battery, the EC35 has an official range of 101 miles and a limited top speed of 62mph. If you want to go further but not faster, customers can opt for an increased range option which delivers up to 166 miles, but limits the top speed to 50mph. The EC35 has CCS rapid charging as standard, allowing it to be charged to 80% in 60 minutes using a DC charger.

The EC35 is bigger than rivals, but don't expect to get there fast

The van has a load volume of 4.8m3 and a 1,015kg payload, trumping rivals such as the Citroen e-Berlingo. It is also equipped with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity. 

The launch of the DFSK EC35 follows a series of strategic partnership announcements by the importer Innovation Automotive to support the launch of the van and other vehicles which will be launched over the next few months. It will be linking with the AA and Halfords to look after servicing and customer support.

Don't expect luxury, but there is CarPlay and Android Auto