Citroen eDispatch - An Electric Van That Goes The Distance!

This week James has been trailing the new 75kWh Citroen eDispatch. A full week at work meant it covered over 1400 miles, so if you want to know about range, charge speeds and what it's real world capabilities are, you're in the right place.

[@computerbob06]

I work for a large UK delivery company (can't say which one - I'll get disciplined) and we use the diesel versions (Peugeot/Citroën) of these vans all the time these days - as well as the midi sized versions! They are great vans, I do feel a little distant from the front end - I guess that's for crash protection(?), the diesel engines have plenty of space in their, so they could probably pull that back for aero! Some of our vans have dodgy fitting front doors but they do close and my side door opened once for no reason, which wasn't great. They do have lots of storage and feel good quality, the door bins are quite low though for taller drivers and the doors are very heavy if you're getting in and out 200 times a day! Hopefully, whoever is in charge of requisitioning at our company can purchase the BEV version to replace the diesels? Most of our deliveries are town based and only about max 40 miles a day if not, so the 50kwh should be fine. Virtually all of our depots are town based also, so we could provide charging facilities to the public when the vans are out and make some money! These vans would make great camper versions too, might need to advertise well to get people away from VW's, though!

[@monkeysausage2404]

I am currently doing a conversion, alas it's on a diesel van. But absolutely no reason the EV variant couldn't get done.

[@billyflanagan9657]

I love mine I got the 50 kw. I get about 145 miles per charge and it works for me. Best vehicle I ever bought

[@ghost70]

Good video and proves my point that there is a need for extremely high idle fees and photo evidence of camping on charge points to stop what you saw.

[@benholroyd5221]

Another option could be to have 4 spaces to one charger so you can queue up and aren't impacted so much by campers.

[@HansKeesom]

@@benholroyd5221 I like the idea of an electric camper but when no longer charging, move!

[@damo_c]

Great review, I have absolutely no need for a van working from home, but you made me want one!

[@craigoneill4504]

What a great van! Well thought out and has massive amounts of useable space! Excellent range too, a definite contender for a campervan conversion for sure too. Things are hotting up in the van market now for sure. Great review, thank you!

[@grahamarnold2591]

GREAT FOR ALL TRADES ---that bulkhead great for copper pipe... GREAT VIDEO JAMES ...cheers Graham .

[@keithwilson1554]

Charge points. Pay by Credit Card or Phone for all companies. When the vehicle is charged the owner is sent an SMS and they have 5-10 minutes to move it. If not the cable should be detachable remotely by Company (Attach and Detach by swiping your card/phone and locked for the charge) and the Charger should be on a carousel system so it can move to the nearest empty car space.

[@thumper1747]

Hi James, that was the best video I’ve seen and contained all the reassurances I needed. After five years running my pressure washing business from a Renault Trafic 1.6turbo diesel, I’m considering the next five and thought I’d research electric vans. If I could swap my petrol driven pressure washer for an electric version, I could be quieter, cleaner and far more considerate too. Key point for me was the ease by which you could drop in somewhere and top up by 100 miles.

[@WonkoTheSaneUK]

We've been complaining about the MK Connect vans for AGES over on Speak EV forum!

[@richardcorns8553]

Great review thank. I've had my Peugeot E Expert for a couple of weeks now and absolutely love it, first week of ownership I did 900 miles in it effortlessly. Would have cost me £ 160 in diesel in my pickup truck. Cost me around £ 30 with a couple of top ups at rapids but mainly charging from home on cheap tariff. Using it in the building trade carrying tools and materials. Had 3m drainage pipes in it today with the hatch open in the bulkhead under the seat. Interior and efficiency is identical to the Citroën you reviewed. Glove box is in these vans button to open is on the underside of lid which lifts up. Perfect partner to our model 3 family car. Finally full electric 👊

[@doubledutch13]

Morning. Another great EV review from the Team 👍

[@clivehale397]

I used to work for a company which used the dispatch van so I know how good they are...wow tho they have made it electric....and at that price they will sell thousands.. .nice film too james...wasn't forgetting you really ...lol.

[@cloggsy1971]

This'd make a cracking eCampervan :)

[@benholroyd5221]

CampEVan surely?

[@matthewjackson9615]

I bet Citroen will continue to do well. Throughout Europe they produced reliable and affordable utilitarian vehicles for years. Everybody is familiar with this brand.

[@MrPhillipgraham]

I had a diesel berlingo for 5 years and it was the best van I've ever owned. Reliable, good to drive and we'll thought out. Really tempted by this electric version it sounds ideal.

[@frankie6849]

Nice van great information thank you

[@audioorigami]

seems like a fantastic van !!

[@ManxAndy]

I like that…..it would definitely make a fantastic campervan conversation 👍🇮🇲

[@iantrott9152]

Excellent video again James :) A passenger version of this would be ideal for my mobility equipment and my family :)

[@costynas]

You can now get one. It's called Citroen e-SpaceTourer. Also you could look for it's "sisters", the Peugeot e-Traveller or Vauxhall/Opel Vivaro Life Electric.

[@markgaudie80]

Make the perfect small camper this. Nice review as always James. 👍👍

[@paulhannaford3657]

Great video & a great van,I want one! 👍

[@iandonnelly542]

I have had my E Expert for 63 days, travelled just a smidge under 5000miles, and honestly, hand on heart, the best vehicle I have ever owned. There are no excuses left for me, I'm 100% converted. As a result, my mam just bought an e208, and our company are seriously thinking about a plan to go electric when we cha ge our vehicles. Utterly brilliant machines. I had no clue it had lbar support tho 😳

[@PaddysBushcraft]

Great review James 👌 I'd say your upset to go back to the e.nv200 🤣🤣

[@Madonsteamrailways]

This sounds like a great choice!!

[@cosworthization]

Brilliant video.

[@markgaudie80]

I’ve just booked a holiday in Scotland and hired the Vauxhall e-Vivaro as a camper with a pop roof. Can’t wait!

[@jur4x]

Recently started driving Fiat Ducato (2011) flatbad for work. It is still within Cat "B" but it is massive. Got used to size quickly :) Then again, I'm no longer in the UK, so roads are a bit wider. On the other hand since 2013, when I passed my test in UK, I haven't done a lot of LHD driving, especially on the right. I wish it was electric, but at the moment new CNC and forklift are way higher on the list of priorities for my employer.

[@andyfry7951]

Sorry I forgot to mention that I enjoy your videos thanks Andy

[@neilconstable2544]

A similar situation in my town. We have only one Podpoint charger (2 outlets) in the town and some guy with a PHEV plugs in at 7am and then goes to his place of work leaving it connected, fully charged within 2 hours, for the remainder of his working day thus reducing the charging capacity of the whole town by 50%. Unacceptable.

[@erebostd]

Is there no charge for parking there? Here in europe (well, the countries i visited lately) there’s a fine if you are charged and „park“ there. And it’s steep, you’re really fast at 50 (that’s the max in most urban areas) to 100-200 Euros (big cities, charger at the airport or so, ea in Frankfurt, Paris, etc). That’s quite fair i think (before you ask: you can’t just reduce the charging speed and charge extremely slow, the maximum charging time is - depending on the speed of the fast charger - around 2 to 3 hours. So if you aren’t full after this time, which is basically impossible, you the parking charge). PS: The App informs you that you need to remove your car (you mostly have 5-15 minutes to do so if you get the info), credit card chargers get an sms if they enter their number at the charger

[@dcvariousvids8082]

I can see that suiting a lot of small businesses or fleets.

[@mervynmorris613]

The wipers have a Hubnut "triangle of doom".

[@michelleflint8389]

Great review and thanks it looks a really nice van but I am still tempted to the MG5 EV. after watching the earlier review

[@psntuningdelirium8406]

Cancelled my subscription to pulse as well due to lack of maintenance. You need to send this off to them same gridserve couldn't buy yhem out lol

[@Madonsteamrailways]

The only times I use the BP chargers at Harlow Gate Services is when I’m going to my cousins in Hadstock, just outside Saffron Walden.

[@wobby1516]

That’s totally unacceptable for MK Connect to leave their vans on chargers all night. A selfish self centred company that I’ll never use what’s more I’m cancelling my BP account too. Why doesn’t BP put a time penalty on their charge points it’s the only way to stop this kind of selfish behaviour.

[@jfv65]

Abslutely 100% agree. This kind of behavior is beyond annoying. Same goes for the chargers being out of commission. If a charger fails it needs to be fixed bloody ASAP. The van is just brilliant. Do want one!

[@marks-0-0]

@@jfv65 or like some charges that free vend if they lose communication.

[@Aweegin]

Could you not park alongside, unplug their van, presuming its full, to charge your own vehicle? Providing the cable will reach, of course. None EV driver, currently, asking.

[@jimporter7418]

@@Aweegin can't unplug someone else's vehicle, needs the same RFID tag to unlock as the one that started the charge

[@nicdensley4104]

@@Aweegin the cable probably wouldn't reach, they are quite short on the rapid chargers. InstaVolt being the exception, they have a great swing arm design.

[@danielmoore2142]

Definitely getting one of these in the business for local window cleaning division…

[@MartinLV.]

i want one of these.. just crew cab range and charging seems good enough for my 60-120 mile daily comutes.. i think you could replace halogen billbs with leds, just have to trick the ecu so it does not think bulb is out..

[@darkoampem]

Regarding chargers, I've only had good experiences with Instavolt. There was one time where I arrived at an instavolt charger that was not working, I called them at 9pm at night and the lovely lady rebooted it remotely and got it working. More than happy to pay a bit more to charge at an instavolt charger, however the general price of electricity is getting higher.

[@superdoc6633]

Hiya and thanks for a good informative video. Please let us know what the cost of charging is. How much have you spent on your journeys in this van so far. Thanks again

[@muddyboots13ify]

Interesting comments on the larger Citroen van, as my present van is a 17plate Berlingo diesel and I love it to bits. I have driven a diesel powered Dispatch and this didn't disappoint but looking at how you can use the charge points just like a normal driver taking a break at services seems to be generally OK but there are some hic-ups much like when there's no diesel. But thankfully seeing a normal guy using their van for normal stuff and showing off the range isn't a number picked out of the sky but actually works for you the driver. And that range thing is always for all drivers one of those things we worry about, having had several vehicles breakdown due to fuel starvation that's one thing that concerns me with EV power. Plus with producing an EV how much will that affect the environment? and what about battery life? I think before I jump out of my Berlingo there are many things to consider

[@monkeysausage2404]

I have the diesel version and there is a glove box. The button to open it is underneath. Where the head unit s, if you follow along to the left that big ass bit of plastic is the glove box.

[@livingladolcevita7318]

Hi James I have been looking for an e van and this sounds pretty good. Not looking to use as a work van so will be pretty empty so range should be quite high.

[@Trevorfoggia]

I have looked at the seated version of your van in both Citroen, Peugeot and Vauxhall versions which are good but my issue is the charging in Cumbria which is crap.

[@coop69coop]

Great video James , I am guessing this is summer and you are doing about 65mph? To get that range ? Can you confirm ? Thanks

[@RedBatteryHead]

You're right on those pole huggers. Even when They need to charge over night put some AC 11kW stalls near it. HPC is for Travelers. An 220VAC outlet would be great on that Van, right? For some tools or can of coffee

[@wobby1516]

That’s an excellent ideas.

[@robredz]

Was thinking this will be a better bet than the SAIC vans, would do what I want.

[@sodunkwales7361]

Hi great vid might be a stupid question but could you tow with one of these? Buying a van next month but need to be able to tow a caravan with it😀

[@snipper-alien2228]

Hi how are you getting some many miles form the van. I will have to check with Citroen. fully charged i travelled form Hebburn (near newcastle upon tyne ) down to Darlington which is a round trip of 68- 7o miles. average speed on the motorway of 55 - 60 mph and the van uses well over 100 miles of range to cover that distance. is this about right for the van ??? its only 2=3 weeks old and i have covered about 350 miles. i only drive it on eco mode. Based on i think from a fully charged van 75kw 203 miles don't think would do any more than 120 - 130 .. base on that if i had to cover 250 mile to my destination i would have to stop 2 - 3 time just to get there .. look forward to any comments regards Dave

[@nicdensley4104]

We are trying to decide between a 2nd hand env200 around £15k and one of those or its sister vehicles, which is easy £10k more. We'll be using it day in day in day out. Do you think it's worth us pushing forward with that extra £10k?

[@marks-0-0]

You shouldn't be allowed to leave your car plugged in after its charged. Maybe have a system whereby when your car reaches a full charge you recieve a text asking you to move it or you will be billed a high per minute charge.

[@wobby1516]

Perfectly doable, Tesla already do it with some of their popular charge points.

[@nicdensley4104]

That's a great idea.

[@FFVoyager]

You should be charged £1 for every minute over 100% (you should be stopping charging after 80% or so on rapids anyway)

[@trevorhartley5166]

Hi could you tell me is there any differences in the heating systems in EVs or are they like for like

[@macduff1964a]

I’d be interested in knowing what your cost per mile is when using the network?

[@glenreidy]

Are these miles mostly motorway, so 180 miles at 70mph?

[@Madonsteamrailways]

Personally, I think Instavolt is the most reliable provider of car electricity. I always try to get my Renault Zoe to North Weald Bassett for the Instavolt chargers at the Jet garage.

[@tonysmith8747]

Good videos...which ev vans support v2l please?

[@paulcarnall791]

I'm passing this onto my brother in law . Painter n decorator. He's looking this could be ideal.

[@mucky2hot]

cancelled my bp pulse sub a few months ago too.

[@Madonsteamrailways]

Tesco is the only other charger I like to use. Try the ones at Brookfield Centre off the A10.

[@superliegebeest544]

How are the seats? I used to drive an Nissan NV that would mess me up. Same like Opel astra and kangoo.

[@nigelweir3852]

You just answered my question , camper conversion , much is it basic new

[@Madonsteamrailways]

The Nissan NV200 was popular, but had a range of around 60 miles per full charge!! What good is that?!!

[@Mobile_Dom]

something i wanted to ask, if you do a 12v battery swap on an EV, should you pull the HV master disconnect first? no idea why im thinking you would, but i am

[@paulblakey1488]

Would you say the vivaro e 75kwh model is the same as this van in terms of performance,build quality,software(accuracy of GOM) etc

[@nerijusm6722]

There is a glovebox. A push button just underneath it.

[@andyfry7951]

Hi I have a Ford Transit I have problems is it something that you might be able to solve with the Ford Transit thanks very much Andy

[@johnharris6176]

H.what does this equate to in pence per mile. Ive no idea how much a kw is.thanks

[@alanjenkinson7812]

What do you get miles per kwh in the Nissan James?

Damn, the passenger version is almost 70 thousand euros. Such a difference in price, is crazy

[@cliff1551]

What's the rear view mirror for

[@SortItOotMan]

Ordered a Vauxhall 75kw version of this van, in Elite spec with tailgait and 11kw onboard charger, back in Jan 21. Still waiting. It's like it's not being built in France, like it is, but on a slow boat from China, the time it's taking. Maybe see it next year?

[@liamjpbrady]

Hi James!! I’ve really enjoyed this video! My plan is to buy one of those PSA group vans and convert to a camper!! Was that the standard wheelbase or the long one?

[@Jamesandkate]

Hi Liam. Glad you enjoyed it. This was the medium WB. They do a very short, rather odd looking version, then a LWB which is massive. I think this would make a good camper. Good luck.

[@liamjpbrady]

@@Jamesandkate Thanks for your reply! Much appreciated. Yes. I’d rather not buy the massively long LWB. A medium sounds ideal. I’ll have to get used to not having adaptive cruise control like I have now on the Kia Soul, but I’ll get over that!!🤣🤣

[@mikejf4377]

Use a floor jack on those trucks that are just left there.

[@dcvariousvids8082]

Still tethered to the charger though, so waste of physical energy to shift them. Only detergent, is to hit them where they’ll notice… in the pocket. But then again, why would BP go out of there way to help EVs. Their main business is still in fossil fuels. So anything they can do to slow the adoption and discourage would-be EV buyer, the more it plays into the hands of big oil. Every little helps as they say; and bad news is more widely shared than good news.

[@effervescence5664]

I do like these vans but we found the vauxhall version just couldn't handle the load we carry or the miles we do to be convenient to swap to. Fully loaded heating engineers and sparks, with access equipment etc for installations and call outs it just didn't cut the mustard but for deliveries and lighter loads all versions of it are quite good.

[@richardcorns8553]

I use the peugeot e expert for carpenters van. Carrying all my tools plus materials mainly fire doors. 150 miles some days no problem at all. Saves a fortune in fuel.

[@electriccarsandvans]

Proper steering lock: Good. Then they undo this goodness with an electric parking brake :( I presume these vans do have an physical park pawl in the final drive as per the Leaf also?

[@markgaudie80]

I hope BP Pulse are watching this. Them vans sitting on those rapids is a disgrace!!!

[@glynscothern4073]

Refuel 2 times in 300 miles ?

[@glenreidy]

Just an idea. Why don’t Cleveley motors branch out into ev charger repair.

[@glenreidy]

You’d be minted within one day haha.

[@craigrogers7344]

No LED lights?

[@thomasdepaor1518]

Bp pulse must be trying sabotage the charging network, we have had 7 out of 8 chargers down for ages, visiting friends in Farnham, we planned to stop at BP pulse chargers, and all of them, where out of order? for weeks, according to the chat info on the app.

[@itchywitchy]

That seems like a lot of van for the money

[@stuartramplin9265]

How does the charging up work are u paying each time or annually and is it expensive can u use 1 card to charge any where in the country..Does this work out cheaper to run than a diesel

[@bernardcharlesworth9860]

Nope the government made a dogs dinner over that should of been just credit card payment.but you have a mixture of cards and apps. Mainly charge at home at 5p per kWh.

[@tuc-dh4df]

James I have a query. A house 7kw charger is not really a charger as I think the charger for 7kw is in the car, so why do we need 3 pin 'brick' chargers for 2.3kw?? Its bothering me!

[@cbflazaro]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/e4XJlYqGh5aAr9U

[@coop69coop]

I’m thinking it must be to identify what type Of supply it’s connected to , the brick charger tells the car what it is and accepts the 2kw.

[@will4may175]

My wifes Ecoboost Fiesta has the auto wipers, useless, they can be going fine then all of a sudden jump to max speed and stay there yet the rain is barely coming down, turn them off and back on and they're fine until they randomly go nuts, and yes the car is clean I wash it regularly as where I work is on the coast and seagulls have a fondness for black cars, looks like someone tipped a tin of mucky white paint on the car after.

[@kiteless1]

Such a shame they don't (yet) do the 75kWh battery for the passenger vans (Spacetourer, Traveller, etc). Even with quick charging the 50 is a bit limiting.

[@deceptor99]

I would love to know how much EV costs for a journey of say 100 miles compared to ICE. I'm tempted . I've got to drive from Dundee to Lincoln on an infrequent basis and would love to know the £££s

[@Jamesandkate]

As a rule the equivalent electricity cost is between 10-25% of the fuel. This depends on how you charge it.

[@deceptor99]

@@Jamesandkate Thanx

[@richardcorns8553]

If you use public charging 100mile in this van will cost around £ 12 If charging from home on off peak tariff your looking around £ 2 for the same journey. Hope this helps.

[@iandonnelly542]

Right now, you can make hay whilst the sun shines. I went from north east England, to Scotland, drove around Scotland and back home and it cost me absolutely nothing in "fuel", as I was able to pick up free charges on the way, and ultimately only needed 2 anyway. I have the eExpert and its an incredible vehicle in every sense of the word. Even servicing is tremendously cheaper.

[@computerbob06]

Who sang that song?......... We like short, shorts!

[@jeffcartwright7270]

The Royal Teens ( 1957 ) Then Freddy & the Dreamers in around 1965.

[@12vLife]

Does anybody know the specs and on board 12v battery and tray? Any chance it can be upgraded to something bigger and lithium, like 300AH Lithium ? Does the AC run off the 12v battery?

[@bernardcharlesworth9860]

Good idea to go 12v lithium as long as not 14.2v.I have not seen any orange cable going to ac so think it's 12v

[@coop69coop]

The a/c is always powered by high voltage , it’s waaaaay more efficient to do so

[@SaffyMirza]

2.9 miles per kWh makes this a bit on the expensive side, this is probably an unpopular opinion but here goes.. if you were to charge at BP Pulse Ultra Rapids they charge 42p per kWh and you would use 345 of them for 1000 miles so that would be £144.90. Instavolt charge 69p per kWh and that would be £238.05 for the same distance! The 2.0 ltr diesel version of this averages (lets say) 40 miles to the gallon, so for example if you can pay 1.35 per litre, multiply by 4.5 for UK gallons, works out to £6.075 per gallon, divide 1000 miles by 25 gallons gives you £151.875. there is an advantage if you can get cheaper electricity overnight but if you have to just use the Public Charging Infrastructure you have to calculate if its really worth it to you

[@wobby1516]

Thats not correct. Instavolt charge 35p per kWh not 69p. 345x 35p = £120.75 that cheaper than your diesel. Then there’s overnight rate at home of 5p per kWh using OctopusEnergy go tariff 345x 5p per kWh = £17.25 which is way cheaper. Back to the drawing board!

[@evbear561]

It does not cost 69p/kWh for Instavolt .

[@richardcorns8553]

I just charge mine at home 5p kwh. I do 70 miles a day most days with the odd 200 mile day so may top up at a rapid for 15 mins or so which is expensive. Even my std home rate is 13.32kwh so still very cheap. 1st week of ownership I did 900 miles for around £ 30. My previous work truck 2017 l200 pickup truck did around 32mpg and would do 450 miles on an £ 80 fill. So my 1st week saved £ 130 on fuel. I love this van 😀

[@wobby1516]

@@richardcorns8553 That’s real world data and speaks volumes, it’s a no brainier. What people fail to realise is the resale value of these vans is way better that an ICE van, so the real ownership cost are less than an ICE.

[@cbflazaro]

40mpg in a loaded van... dream on < Also dont forget to add the fixing of head gasted, leaky engines, etc. Dont know of any reliable combustion van out there. theyre made to last 2-3 years.

[@greigs9384]

Now if someone converted that for use as a Taxi in London, it would dominate the market over our current two crap choices.

[@willdatsun]

Im seling a 50kWh version in mint condition in south east UK extremely cheaply if anyone's interested. I bought it but it is too large for me I have realised.

[@nigelweir3852]

Ah should have waited to the end 25000 + vat , used 15000 in 3 years

[@ricardo-iw9sq]

Just come back from 5 day break, I have a volvo xc70, I filled tank and we drove 575 miles round trip, 5 passengers a ramed boot and a ramed 90L roof box and didn't re fuel until I got home, as I was driving I tried counting the amount of evs and yes there are more but when we pulled in a service stations I noticed that ecotricty chargers weren't working and saw a woman with screaming kids trying to get an app to work as we drove out there was 12 tesla chargers and were all full, the more I see and read the UK simply cannot go full electric until the infrastructure works with no bs apps and simple plug and go just like fuel stations. I'm looking for changing the wife's car but now talked my self out getting her an ev, none of the supermarkets nearby have chargers and while we we away at the beach not one charger in plain sight obviously if I had ev then I would have an app to say where they are but still why hide them, judging by the tesla network then this what to go for but will have wait for model Y. With covering 575 miles on one fill up I was pleasantly surprised but will wait longer before I change. Good looking van though. .

[@team3383]

Weeeelll You are driving around with an EMPTY van so ..... but most people do in any case I suppose.

[@conorlanders8401]

The efficiency is a little unrealistic but I'm getting around 2.2-2.4 long term average with a reasonable load and I suspect a heavier right foot.

[@chrisw443]

there is still no electric vans in the US. Good luck getting an etransit anytime soon. they might as well not exist.

[@Dave_Br]

This is the taboo that none of these reviews ever mention is what the range is after a few years, not what it is new. These reviews always give the range of brand new vehicles. I don't think these electric vehicles will be worth anything after a 5 years. Nobody wants a 5 year old battery, let along a 10 year old one. And how about a review telling us if a battery can be replaced for once.

[@Jamesandkate]

The battery will be fine after 5 years.

[@davandbre]

Well done for calling out poorly maintained EV infrastructure providers!!

[@telfreak1]

Sorry but this English is not understandable

[@Jamesandkate]

What are you struggling with??

[@telfreak1]

@@Jamesandkate my mother tongue is not english. but i speak english. But I can't understand this pronunciation. I'm really sorry.

[@dickonwhitehead1502]

How good is the stereo?