Maxus is an often-underrated pioneer of electric light commercial vehicles in the UK.
The SAIC-owned brand introduced its first electric van, the EV80, at the Commercial Vehicle Show in 2016 and has since established a tradition of exhibiting only BEVs at the annual NEC-hosted event.
The highlight on its stand at the 2024 CV Show was the eDeliver 5, its latest electric medium-sized van.
The 5’s exterior bears a striking resemblance to the ID Buzz Cargo, but it is far more than a budget-priced Chinese imitation of Volkswagen’s esteemed and upmarket BEV.
It is refined, sophisticated and practical in its own right. The eDeliver 5 is 4,800mm long, with a choice of two vehicle heights in L1H1 and L1H2 configurations giving cargo volumes of 6.6m3 and 7.6m3. The load bed in the L1H1 is 2,654mm long, has a maximum width of 1,704mm and a height of 1,455mm. The L1H2 has the same load length and width but a load height of up to 1,675mm. Both derivatives offer a maximum payload of 1,200kg and a towing capacity of 1.5-tonnes, which is a useful feature for an electric van and thankfully one that is becoming more common.
The load bay can be accessed by twin rear doors that swing through to 180º and also via sliding doors on both sides of the van. The space contains four binding rings to secure loads.
A full-height steel bulkhead protects the cabin from the cargo area and a spare tyre is included.
The eDeliver 5 features a 163hp electric powertrain with a 64kWh battery pack, offering a range between charges of up to 208 miles on the WLTP combined cycle, although Maxus claims the range increases to 304 miles on urban cycles.
An 80% charge with a DC charger takes 42 minutes, while a full charge with an AC charger can be completed in 7.5 hours.
Cabin equipment includes a 12.3in infotainment touchscreen with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity, USB and voice control while driver assistance systems include adaptive cruise control, lane departure warning, lane keep assist, a 360-degree camera system, a rear sensor, and a speed limit ID system.
Like all new Maxus vehicles, the 5 is now available with the Hi Maxus driver assistance system. Functions include remote access to lock/unlock doors, control windows and sunroof, start/stop the engine, honk the horn or control lights remotely, vehicle status monitoring to check doors, windows, sunroof and tyre pressure with alerts for any tampering, the ability to locate the vehicle and set destinations and comfort control to set the cabin temperature.
An unusual ignition system means the eDeliver 5 is ready to go when unlocked and placed in D (drive) or R (reverse). It has three driving modes of Eco, Normal and Sport, which deliver distinct levels of performance, with acceleration tempered in Eco but far zippier in Sport, leaving Normal as the happy medium.
It also has three regenerative braking modes, with the strongest retardation setting making one-foot driving easy in urban situations, the mid-setting reducing the severity of the braking, and the third mode allowing coasting on open roads, so there is less need to press down on the accelerator to keep up with the flow of traffic.
The van handles well even when pushed quite hard, with a surprising amount of feedback through the electric power steering. Driving modes are selected on the steering wheel, which is height adjustable. The driver’s seat is manually six-way adjustable but the double passenger bench seat is fixed.
The eDeliver 5 couples practicality with decent performance and with a price tag of under £35,000, ex-VAT and the plug-in van grant, it is well positioned to entice new customers into electric vans.
Highly Commended: Mobilize Bento
Renault Group’s mobility brand, Mobilize is set to bring its Bento microvan to the UK towards the end of 2025.
The Bento is an electric quadricycle designed for urban deliveries, measuring 2.54m long. A 10.3kWh battery allows a range of up to 93 miles between charges. Power comes from a 48V electric motor, taken from the hybrid version of Renault’s Austral passenger car. The Bento’s cargo box has a 649-litre capacity. The model contains more than 40% recycled materials, and is 95% recyclable, according to Mobilize.
