Electric Van of the Year 2021: Vauxhall Vivaro-e
The Vauxhall Vivaro-e is the 2021 Auto Express Electric Van of the Year, with the LEVC VN5 and Renault Zoe Van commended
Electrification is big news in the van market, which is why we’ve created this new category. The Vauxhall Vivaro-e is a worthy first winner, because it helps to banish concerns about range anxiety. The Vivaro-e shares its technology with the Citroen e-Dispatch, Peugeot e-Expert and Toyota Proace Electric vans, but unlike those three it also comes as a five-seat Crew Van, which edges it ahead.
Power comes from a 134bhp electric motor, while the van’s long platform means there’s room for 50kWh or 75kWh batteries. Even the smaller pack offers a WLTP-rated range of 133 miles where rivals are struggling to break 100 miles, while the 75kWh version is rated at 195 miles. In addition, the Vivaro-e is more like a car to drive than a commercial vehicle and features the latest safety kit.
Commended
If you’re an electric sceptic, then taxi maker LEVC offers its range-extending VN5 plug-in hybrid van. It uses the same running gear as the TX taxi, so has a similarly tight turning circle, a 60-mile electric-only range and a maximum range of 300 miles once the petrol engine cuts in.
Renault Zoe Van
For the Zoe Van, Renault has simply ditched the back seats of its supermini, added a level floor and blacked-out rear windows, and fitted a mesh partition. The running gear and cabin remain unaltered, so you get the same range of 245 miles and all the connectivity you could need.
New Car Awards 2021: the winners
| New Car Awards 2021: introduction | Luxury Car of the Year 2021: Bentley Flying Spur |
| Car of the Year 2021: Hyundai Ioniq 5 | Hot Hatch of the Year 2021: Hyundai i20 N |
| City Car of the Year 2021: Fiat 500 | Coupe of the Year 2021: Alpine A110 |
| Supermini of the Year 2021: Renault Clio | Convertible of the Year 2021: MINI Convertible |
| Family Car of the Year 2021: Skoda Octavia | Performance Car of the Yea 2021: Toyota GR Yaris |
| Estate Car of the Year 2021: Skoda Octavia Estate | Affordable Electric Car of the Year 2021: Renault Zoe |
| Small Company Car of the Year 2021: Volkswagen ID.3 | Premium Electric Car of the Year 2021: Hyundai Ioniq 5 |
| Mid-size Company Car of the Year 2021: Hyundai Ioniq 5 | Affordable Hybrid Car of the Year 2021: Toyota Yaris |
| Large Company Car of the Year 2021: Mercedes E-Class | Premium Hybrid Car of the Year 2021: Mercedes E-Class |
| Small SUV of the Year 2021: Renault Captur | Pick-up of the Year 2021: Ford Ranger |
| Mid-size SUV of the Year 2021: Hyundai Tucson | Van of the Year 2021: Ford Transit Custom |
| Large SUV of the Year 2021: SEAT Tarraco | Electric Van of the Year 2021: Vauxhall Vivaro-e |
| Small Premium SUV of the Year 2021: Mercedes GLA | Design Award 2021: Hyundai Ioniq 5 |
| Mid-size Premium SUV of the Year 2021: Land Rover Defender | Technology Award 2021: Citroen Ami |
| Large Premium SUV of the Year 2021: BMW X5 | Previous winners |
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