Maxus launched its latest electric light commercial vehicle, the eDeliver 5, at the CV Show on 23 April, continuing a tradition that saw the brand reveal its first electric van, the EV80, at the NEC event eight years ago.
From the outside, the eDeliver 5 bears more than a passing resemblance to VW’s ID. Buzz Cargo, and with tongue in cheek, Mark Barrett, managing director of UK and Ireland distributor Harris Maxus, says: “You can feel a buzz around it.”
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 180 degrees 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. Maxus says
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.
Interior tech
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.
The eDeliver 5, like all new Maxus vehicles, 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.
Prices for the eDeliver 5 start at a competitive £34,000 excluding VAT, and customers will also be able to take advantage of the Plug-in-Van-Grant (PiVG) of up to £5,000. By way of comparison, the Vauxhall Vivaro Electric Pro is priced at £40,480, excluding VAT and including the PiVG.
The model has been available to order from June, with the first deliveries expected in August.
There is some crossover in terms of loading capacities and range between the eDeliver 5 and the short-wheelbase version of the eDeliver 7 medium van, which Maxus introduced in the first quarter of 2024.
The eDeliver 7 is available with either 77kWh or 88kWh batteries, giving respective ranges on the WLTP combined cycle of 200 and 230 miles. Payloads go from 1,025kg to 1,200kg and load volumes progress from 5.9m3 to 6.7m3 to 8.7m3.
Barrett predicts the eDeliver 5 will appeal more to fleets and the eDeliver 7 more to the “BBC (butcher, baker, candlestick maker) market” due to its higher-specced interior.
He claims customers do not obsess over payload and load volume capacities but look for a van that “will do me for [carrying my] tools”.
Barrett says that as the electric van market matures range anxiety will reduce and buyers will choose vans to suit their requirements.
“Customers will specify more to [their] application as the EV market moves forward,” he says.
“Why get a 77kWh battery when a 65kWh will do?”
Barrett cites the medium vans from Stellantis as well as the Toyota Proace, which shares their platform, as rivals for the eDeliver 5 and claims the eDeliver 7 can compete with the Ford E-Transit Custom.
On the road
We drove the eDeliver 5 in L1H1 mode. An unusual ignition system means the van 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 sluggish 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 in our van was fixed and there is no fold down table in the middle perch. The ride is on the firm side but comfortable enough, at least for the driver. The middle passenger seat is too tight to consider taking three occupants on anything but the shortest of journeys.
The cabin features an overhead shelf, but little else in the way of storage provision other than small nets in the doors, which are not likely to prove durable. Overall, the cabin materials are cheap but befitting of the eDeliver 5’s budget price tag.
Likewise, the side loading doors did not fix into place when opened but slid closed and the detachable arms to hold the rear doors open are flimsy.
| Model | Maxus eDeliver 5 |
| Price (ex VAT, inc PIVG) | £34,000 |
| Insurance group | TBC |
| Warranty | 5yrs/100,000mls (battery 8yrs/125,000mls) |
| Service intervals | 2yrs/unlimited mls |
| Load length | 2,653mm |
| Load width (max) | 1,704mm |
| Load bay height | 1,455mm |
| Gross payload | 1,200kg |
| Load volume | 6.6m3 |
| Engine size/power | 163hp electric motor with 65kWh battery |
| Range | 208 miles |
| CO2 | 0g/km |
| On sale | August 2024 |
| Key rival | Vauxhall Vivaro Electric |
| Verdict | With a price tag that could attract new customers to EVs, the eDeliver 5 couples practicality with decent performance. |
| Score | 8/10 |
