Skip to main content

New van from Ford, DHL shows electric powertrains aren’t just for passenger cars

Electric cars may get a lot of attention, but electric vans could really help reduce pollution. Delivery vehicles rack up more mileage than passenger cars, and they tend to get worse fuel economy than the average sedan.

Ford already has ambitious electric car plans, and the carmaker also thinks electric vans are a good idea. It teamed up with Deutsche Post DHL Group to build a fleet of electric vans for mail delivery in Germany. Deutsche Post, the Germany postal service, was already interested in electric vehicles before Ford came along, buying the rights to StreetScooter electric vans and arranging to put them into production itself. But Ford’s participation could accelerate Deutsche Post’s electrification plans.

Recommended Videos

The new electric van, dubbed the StreetScooter Work XL, uses a Ford Transit chassis with an electric powertrain and a body designed by Deutsche Post. It’s a bit bigger than StreetScooter’s existing Work and Work L vans, which explains the “XL” designation. Ford says it can hold up to 200 parcels at a time.

The Work XL features a modular battery system, allowing battery packs from 30 to 90 kilowatt-hours. Ford says that should allow a range of 80 to 200 kilometers (49 miles to 124 miles), with charging taking about three hours. Because delivery vans operate on predictable routes relatively close to a central terminal or garage, range anxiety will probably be less of an issue than with electric passenger cars.

Ford and Deutsche Post plan to put 150 preproduction vans into service by the end of this year. By the end of 2018, they want to have 2,500 vans on German roads. That will save 4.75 million liters (1.25 million gallons) of fuel per year, as well as thousands of tons of carbon-dioxide emissions. While the vans will be used exclusively by Deutsche Post at first, the German outfit and Ford are open to selling them to other parties.

Electric commercial vehicles are getting more attention from both established automakers and startups. A new startup called Chanje wants to deliver its first electric vans before the end of this year. Nissan and Renault already sell smaller electric vans in Europe and other markets. Daimler and Tesla are both looking at bigger commercial trucks, with Tesla promising to unveil an electric semi-truck next month.

Stephen Edelstein
Stephen is a freelance automotive journalist covering all things cars. He likes anything with four wheels, from classic cars…
Cheaper EVs ahead? GM and LG say new battery cells are the key
2025 Chevrolet Equinox EV front quarter view.

General Motors and LG Energy Solution have announced a new phase in their ongoing partnership: developing a new battery cell chemistry that could significantly lower the cost of electric vehicles. The joint effort centers on lithium manganese iron phosphate (LMFP) battery cells, a variation of lithium iron phosphate (LFP) that’s gaining popularity for being more affordable and less reliant on expensive materials like nickel and cobalt.

This is a big deal because battery costs are still the single largest expense in producing EVs. According to GM and industry experts, LMFP cells could help bring the cost of electric vehicles close to — or even on par with — gas-powered cars. The goal? Making EVs accessible to a broader range of drivers without sacrificing range or performance.

Read more
Waymo recalled 1,200 robotaxis following collisions with road barriers
Waymo Jaguar I-Pace

Waymo’s autonomous-car technology has made great advances over the years to the point where it’s now allowed to offer paid robotaxi rides in select locations in the U.S.

But the development of the technology is ongoing, and the robotaxi rides continue to gather valuable data for Waymo engineers to pore over as they further refine the driverless system to make it as reliable and efficient as possible. Which is why glitches will sometimes occur.

Read more
Apple CarPlay Ultra looks stunning in Aston Martin supercar debut
Apple CarPlay Ultra

Apple CarPlay Ultra is the next generation of the Cupertino, California-based firm's smartphone projection system for your car, and it's available in new vehicles in the US and Canada.

When we say "new cars", your options are very much limited to one brand... Aston Martin. So you'll need deep pockets if you want to experience CarPlay Ultra for yourself.

Read more