Fiat E-Ducato Electric Tipper Review

The Fiat e-Ducato Tipper at a glance

The Fiat e-Ducato range offers a comprehensive selection of vans to suit a variety of requirements. Available in people mover, panel van and chassis cab base models, there are more than 80 configurations on the market. The chassis cab variants may be of particular interest to commercial customers looking for a Tipper, Luton, or Dropside van.

The Fiat e-Ducato goes beyond other electric van ranges when it comes to wheelbase options, abandoning the “one size fits all” mentality of its rivals in favour of a customisable, versatile offering that gives prospective buyers plenty of options to choose from.

Like many all-electric vans, the Fiat e-Ducato can be expensive to buy outright, but it compensates for this with very low running costs. If the upfront cost is offputting, you could secure a Fiat e-Ducato Tipper on finance from Van Sales UK.

To find out whether the Fiat e-Ducato Tipper is the van for you, keep reading – this review is here to help you make an informed decision.

Engines and Spec

No matter the configuration, the e-Ducato offering from Fiat promises dynamism and comfort, without compromising on power and strength. It provides an incredibly smooth and quiet driving experience, even compared to other electric vans. While some large vans can feel unstable when lightly loaded, the weight of the battery in the e-Ducato range actually helps to improve the ride.

The chassis cab base model comes in 4 different wheelbases, making it a versatile choice that can suit a variety of applications. The maximum length of the Medium wheelbase is 5358mm, while the Medium-Long, Long and XL wheelbases measure in at 5708mm, 5943mm and 6308mm respectively. The chassis cab model’s payload capabilities depend on how the user customises it, but the maximum permitted weights (2100kg on the front axle, 2400kg on the rear axle) are certainly promising.

All variants of the E-Ducato are available with either a 3-Module 47kWh or a 5-Module 79kWh battery. The smaller of the two has a maximum range of 146 miles and, due to its compact design, doesn’t really impact load capacity. If you’re able to sacrifice a bit of load capacity, the 5-Module battery offers an impressive driving range of up to 230 miles.

If you’re new to electric vans, charging a van will also be new to you. However, with the e-Ducato, you’re in safe hands. The 3-Module battery takes just under 8 hours to reach 100% on a Standard Charge, while a Quick Charge takes just under 5 hours and a Fast Charge will get it up to 80% in just 50 minutes. The 5-Module battery can only be recharged with a Quick Charge and Fast Charge, which take 8 hours (100% charge) and 1 hour and 25 minutes (80% charge) respectively.

Interior

The Fiat e-Ducato’s interior is remarkably tough and practical, which shouldn’t be an issue for commercial uses. With plenty of storage options available around the cab and a range of safety and driver assistance options, the Fiat e-Ducato has everything you need for a pleasant but practical commercial vehicle.

The e-Ducato has three Drive Modes, allowing drivers to optimise the vehicle’s performance over the course of their journey. These are Normal, which offers an ideal balance between performance and economy, ECO for increased range, and Power for heavy loads. When the battery is running low, Turtle mode kicks in to help you economise on the remaining charge until you are able to top up.

There are two trim levels, Standard and eTechnico, both of which come with a built-in touchscreen infotainment system. The Standard trim has a 5-inch screen, while the eTechnico trim has a 7-inch screen and includes extras such as Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and satellite navigation. What’s more, the Fiat e-Ducato is compatible with a range of fleet management, incident recovery, journey monitoring, charging, and remote control smartphone applications.

The e-Ducato also comes equipped with features such as automatic climate control, heated mirrors, e-braking, blind spot assist, a lane departure warning system, traffic sign recognition, high beam recognition, and more.

Pros & Cons

Pros

• Cheap to run

• Plenty of variants to choose from

• Impressive claimed driving range

Cons

• Refuelling a diesel is easier than charging

• Expensive to buy outright

• Not quite as powerful as rival vans

The Verdict

The Fiat E-Ducato van is packed full of fantastic features that prioritise economy, safety and comfort above all else. As a result, it is a highly sought-after option within the electric van market. With a range of wheelbases and variants available, there is something to suit everyone’s specific requirements.

While the price of buying electric vans outright is always something to bear in mind, this van does offer plenty of features which make it worth the price, not to mention its impressively low running costs.

If you’d like to find out more about what the Fiat E-Ducato van has to offer, get in touch with the team at Van Sales UK today. With Luton, combi van, panel van, tipper and dropside variants available, we are always on hand to help you find the perfect van for your needs.