Citroen E-Relay Tipper vs Fiat e-Ducato Tipper

For many years, tipper vans have been a staple of the commercial van market for tradespeople working in light construction or landscaping because they make transporting and unloading building materials, construction or garden waste and heavy equipment much easier. The tipper van’s popularity, combined with our increasing awareness of the climate crisis, has meant that almost every mainstream van manufacturer has converted their most favoured tipper models into electric variants. Two great examples of this shift are the Citroen e-Relay Tipper and the Fiat e-Ducato Tipper. Both of their diesel counterparts have seen widespread popularity since their release, and this popularity is only set to continue as they continue to roll out the EV models.

However, in light of the fact that there has been such a push for more carbon neutral options in the commercial van sector, there are now countless electric vans to choose from. Whilst this is only a positive thing, it can nonetheless be difficult to decide what type of tipper van would be best suited to your specific requirements. Although both vans have a lot to offer, it’s important to know all of the key differences between them to help you make an informed decision. Read on to find out more about the peaks and pitfalls of each of these electric vehicles.

Engines and Spec

Taking a look first at the Citroen e-Relay Tipper, drivers will be satisfied with the choice of battery and model sizes on offer. There are three lengths to choose from, and a pair of batteries available – although only the smallest L2H2 model gets the 37kWh battery, and the rest have a 75kWh version. With a maximum range of 73 miles, the smaller battery is really only suitable for those who will be sticking to shorter trips around town, whereas the 75kWh battery manages a much more capable 154 miles. When plugged into a home or workplace (typically 7.4kW) unit, it’ll take 6 hours for a full recharge on the 37kWh battery and 12 hours on the 75kWh.

Moving onto the Fiat e-Ducato Tipper, there is similarly a choice of two battery sizes: 47kWh and 79kWh. The former promises a driving range of 88-108 miles, while the latter predicts around 147-175 miles, all depending on the exact variant you go for. Stick to city driving, and Fiat claims that you might even get 223 miles out of the biggest model, which ought to be more than enough for a daily courier or parcel delivery route. Using a 50kW DC rapid charger, it’ll take 30 minutes to add 60 miles onto your range, whereas a more common 7.4kW charger will deliver a full charge in eight hours, which is ideal for overnight charging.

Interior

The tipper van design consists of a large, open load space that’s equipped with an under-floor tipping mechanism that allows users to tip the body to unload heavy loads at the rear of the vehicle. As such, many tradespeople opt for tipper vans thanks to the fantastic payload that they tend to offer, and the Citroen e-Relay Tipper and Fiat e-Ducato Tipper being no exception to this rule. The e-Relay, with a payload capacity of up to 1150kg is competitive for its size, and loading is only made easier thanks to two hinged rear doors. By comparison, the e-Ducato’s payload capabilities depend on how it’s customised, but the maximum permitted weights (2100kg on the front axle, 2400kg on the rear axle) are certainly impressive.

Both the e-Relay Tipper and the e-Ducato Tipper favour practicality above all else, so although they’re a little less plush, what you’re met with instead are hard-wearing cabs with plenty of storage options and handy features. The e-Relay comfortably houses three adults, and even the middle passenger has plenty of legroom. With the instrument cluster rendered redundant in an electric van, all of the necessary information – remaining range, battery levels, etc – can be found on a display on the rearview mirror. Gears are changed through a trio of convenient buttons for Drive, Neutral and Reverse.

The e-Ducato gives drivers a choice of two trim levels: standard and eTecnico. Both come fitted with a built-in touchscreen infotainment system, though the eTecino’s includes handy extras such as Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, a sat-nav and a rear-view camera. The main instrument panel has been modified to display the same information found on the e-Relay’s rearview mirror. Drive mode is operated by a small switch behind the gear lever – a little less convenient by comparison. Uniquely, however, is the additional ‘Mopar Connect’ screen atop the dashboard which comes as standard and provides specific van info, functioning as a connectivity hub between the van, smartphone apps and fleet management tools. A 12-month Mopar Connect subscription is included in the price of the van.

The Verdict

While both the Citroen e-Relay Tipper and Fiat e-Ducato Tipper are packed with great features, choosing which van to buy will ultimately come down to your preferences and your commercial requirements. At the very least, with either van you can rest assured that you are choosing an environmentally-friendly, zero-emissions tipper van that will reduce your running costs and carbon footprint.

If the choice between the two comes down to cost for you, then worry not as both vans are available to buy on finance lease from Van Sales UK at highly competitive prices. We supply a vast range of new diesel and electric vans in a variety of body lengths and models. If you’d like to find out more about what either van has to offer, please do not hesitate to get in touch with our friendly, knowledgeable team. We are always happy to answer any questions you may have and point you in the right direction towards the perfect van for you.