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For many years, the dropside van has been a staple of the commercial van market for gardeners, landscapers and tradespeople of all industries, offering its users a generous payload and plenty of practicality. As its name suggests, the sides of the load space conveniently drop down to allow for easy loading and unloading jobs, after which they can be raised again to ensure safe and secure transportation for any goods on board.
In light of the push for more carbon neutral commercial vehicle options, almost every mainstream van manufacturer has released battery-powered electric variants of their most popular diesel dropside models, with two great examples of this being the Ford e-Transit Dropside and the Peugeot e-Boxer Dropside. Although both of these electric vehicles have a lot to offer, with so many vans available it’s important to know the key differences between them in order to help you make an informed decision when it comes to your next purchase. Read on to find out more about the peaks and pitfalls of each van.
Engines and Spec
The design of a dropside van consists of a large, open load space with hinged sides and tailboards, allowing them to be dropped below floor level for easy loading. As a result, many tradespeople opt for dropside vans because of the fantastic payload capacity they offer over, for example, a tipper van. As such, both vans are alike in this respect, with the e-Transit Dropside racking up a payload capacity of 1,117kg in the largest variant, and the e-Boxer Dropside coming in at 1,150kg – impressive figures for two battery powered-vehicles.
Taking a look underneath the bonnet of each van, we firstly find a 68kWh battery in the e-Transit Dropside which, on a full charge, can achieve an impressive driving range of up to 200 miles (subject to driving conditions and efficiency). Reworked rear suspension makes for a light, comfortable driving experience – quite a feat considering the weight of the cargo you’re likely to be carrying in the back.
By comparison, the e-Boxer Dropside is fitted with a 75kWh battery that can manage a driving range of up to 154 miles. Despite falling short of the e-Transit by around 50 miles, this is nonetheless a fantastic range for a van of its size. Charging to full can take up to 12 hours, but this is easily doable if you’re charging overnight.
Interior
Moving onto the cabin, the e-Transit Dropside boasts a comfortable and spacious interior, which is only made more roomy by the fact that the traditional diesel features have been replaced to accommodate the electric running gear. The instrument cluster now displays information about battery usage rather than the rev counter, which helps drivers to be more economical whilst on the go. There is also an easy-to-use 12-inch touchscreen infotainment system which can easily be paired with smartphones and other devices.
The Peugeot e-Boxer Dropside’s interior similarly boasts plenty of storage space, ideal for stashing everything you need for a day out on the job. One unique feature is the fact that all of the information typically found on the instrument cluster has been moved to a display on the rearview mirror – indicating the remaining range, battery percentage and current driving mode. Although it might take a little getting used to, it’s convenient to be able to glance over from time to time. The touchscreen display comes as standard, featuring an integrated navigation system, and the gearbox has been replaced by three buttons for easy switching between Drive, Neutral and Reverse.
The Verdict
Despite the fact that the Ford e-Transit Dropside and the Peugeot e-Boxer Dropside are both great electric vehicles in their own right, there are naturally advantages and disadvantages of both, and deciding between the two will ultimately come down to your specific requirements. For example, if you need an electric van that can go the extra mile whilst also carrying a weighty load, then the Ford e-Transit Dropside is probably a better choice. On the other hand, the e-Boxer is great if you need to carry extremely heavy loads around town or on shorter journeys.
Whichever van you choose, you’re sure to find it at the very best price at Vanaways. Stocking an extensive range of diesel and electric vans on an outright purchase or finance basis, our highly competitive prices won’t be beaten. We also offer free mainland UK delivery with every purchase, as well as excellent warranty and breakdown cover.
If you’d like to find out more about the two vans discussed in this review or simply any van available on our site, don’t hesitate to get in touch with us here at Vanaways by giving us a call on 0117 428 7721.
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