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Maxus has launched their latest electric van called the Maxus eDeliver 5.
The medium van will look to fill the gap in the Maxus product range betwen the Maxus eDeliver 3 and the Maxus eDeliver 7.
Full details of the the Maxus eDeliver 5 were revelead at the CV Show (above) several months after a glitzy unveiling in Nanjing, China - a picture from which is at the top of the page.
Produced by SAIC Maxus, the Chinese parent company of Maxus, which is distributed in the UK through imported Harris Maxus, it is of a similar size to current medium-sized vans like the UK's best selling van Ford Transit Custom and the Renault Trafic.
Despite its Chinese launch, details were initially scare, but as you can see from the full spec at the top of the page we now have all the information on the new van. Based on the name, we knew that the new eDeliver 5 would be larger than the eDeliver 3, but we'd been told that it would have a loadspace of at least 6m3 up to 8m3. This would make it very much sit in the category of medium-sized electric van but upon its unveiling at the CV Show, the eDeliver 5 had a much narrow range of size.
This is because the eDeliver 5 is only be available in one wheelbase length, but with two roof heights. As a result it has a cubic volume of either 6.6m3 or 7.6m3.
We know that SAIC has also developed a new platform for it, which call MILA or medium-sized all-electric platform. This is the same platform used by the eDeliver 7.
It was previously thought that the eDeliver 5 would use the same 74kW battery as the slightly larger eDeliver 7, but it has in fact arrived with a smaller 64kWh battery pack. It's still enough to give the eDeliver 5 a combined range of 208 miles according to the WLTP test cycle.
The eDeliver 5 is available in just two different sizes, but whereas most manufacturers choose to go with longer wheelbases or simply larger bodies, the eDeliver 5 will only be available with a higher roof.
Although yet to be confirmed, we're told there will also be the option of a chassis cab.
The model unveiled is the low-roof version and given its compact design (in launch colours that closely mimic the Volkswagen ID Buzz Cargo) it makes us think that an H2 high roof eDeliver 5 might look a little odd.
Power from the electric motor has been confirmed as 120kW for the Maxus eDeliver 5 - a signifcant bump from the expected 80kW. While the power might be high, there is just 240Nm of torque, but with an electric motor producing almost instant toque it shouldn't be an issue.
The Maxus E Deliver 7 has a payload range from 1025kg up to 1200kg, so it's a suprise to see the headline payload figure for the eDeliver 5 topping out at 1200kg. That's a lot for a van of that size.
The Maxus eDeliver 5 has a total length of 4.8m and width of 1.87m, making it slightly smaller than a Ford Transit Custom but around the same width.
Where the differences begin to creep in is in the overall height of the van. The H1 eDeliver 5 has a height of 1.96m, while the H2 eDeliver 5 has a height of 2.18m.
The result is an additional 1m3 of storage space, but more importantly an additional 220mm of internal head height.
You can find out more on the Maxus eDeliver 5 dimensions in our guide.
The official figures for Maxus eDeliver 5's range show that it's 64kWh battery can muster a fairly decent range. According to the WLTP test cycle the eDeliver 5 is capable of 208 miles (335km) on the combined test cycle. In an urban or city environment the range increases to 300 miles (489km) on the WLTP test.
Although no details on charging have been given, Maxus also currently equips its vans with fast charging at up to 80kW which means it could be topped up in around 45 minutes to around 80%.
The newer platform may mean an increase in charging speeds, depending on the electrical systems of the new van.
The eDeliver 5 is going to be Maxus' most advanced van to date. It's already taken a huge leap forward with the Maxus eDeliver 7 which is now a genuine competitor to some of the established manufacturers.
The eDeliver 5 will be a rival for the likes of the Volkswagen ID Buzz Cargo and the Ford E-Transit Custom - both of which are pretty slick and advanced bits of kit, so we're expecting big things from the eDeliver 5 in order for it to snag the attention of last-mile delivery companies and owner drivers alike.
It's hard to make a judgement under the hot lights of a show hall, but first impressions are quite good. The Maxus eDeliver 5 looks interesting and modern. Glossing over it's two-tone paint job that makes it look a lot like an ID Buzz Cargo and imagining it in a plain white, it still looks like a good design.
It's very different to the eDelivery 7 but for a van of this size that's probably a good thing. It's not a shrunken down version, after all, the ED5 butts right up to and tramples on the toes of the ED7 for size.
If the outside of the van is all about cuteness and mass appeal then the inside is the sombre serious side of the Maxus ED5. There's a lot of mono-tone grey going on. It doesn't feel particularly warm or inviting.
There's also a lot of dash. The top of the eDeliver 5 dash is like a table top of scratchy plastic. It's quite jarring compared to the exterior. Yet, the e Deliver 5 interior looks like it's going to be a partical place to sit in and live with.
The Maxus eDeliver 5 was launched at the CV Show in April 2024 with deliveries in the UK by Q4.
This year will be an interesting year for Maxus as deliveries of the eDeliver 5 and the eDeliver 7 begin. There's also an update to the electric Maxus pick-up truck, Maxus T90EV, which will get four-wheel-drive and be called the Maxus T90EV GST. There will also be a diesel version of the other mid-sized van called the Maxus Deliver 7.
An update to the large Maxus van is also due. However, the combustion engine is unlikely to change in the Maxus Deliver 9.
Despite it being Maxus' best-seller, the company is pursuing electric only models going forward which leaves the future of the large diesel van in doubt. The Maxus eDeliver 9 will therefore be the large van most likely to get updated.
The Maxus eDeliver 5 is amongst the best vans for safety having been awarded a Platinum rating in the Euro NCAP Commercial Van Rating 2024.
It scored a total of 82% with high scores for car to car safety, cyslist safety, its lane support systems and the built-in occupant status monitoring system.
Maxus launched its latest electric light commercial vehicle, the eDeliver 5, at the CV Show on 23
April, continuing a tradition that saw the brand reveal its first electric van, the EV80, at the NEC event eight years ago.
From the outside, the eDeliver 5 bears more than a passing resemblance to VW's ID. Buzz Cargo, and with tongue in cheek, Mark Barrett, managing director of UK and Ireland distributor Harris Maxus, says: "You can feel a buzz around it."
The eDeliver 5 is 4,800mm long, with a choice of two vehicle heights in L1H1 and L1H2 configurations giving cargo volumes of 6.6m3 and 7.6m3. The load bed in the L1H1 is 2,654mm long, has a maximum width of 1,704mm and a height of 1,455mm. The L1H2 has the same load length and width but a load height of up to 1,675mm. Both derivatives offer a maximum
payload of 1,200kg and a towing capacity of 1.5-tonnes, which is a useful feature for an electric van and thankfully one that is becoming more common. The load bay can be accessed by twin rear doors that swing through to 180 degrees and also via sliding doors on both sides of the van. The space contains four binding rings to secure loads. A full-height steel bulkhead protects the cabin from the cargo area and a spare tyre is included.
The eDeliver 5 features a 163hp electric powertrain with a 64kWh battery pack, offering a range between charges of up to 208 miles on the WLTP combined cycle, although Maxus claims the range increases to 304 miles on urban cycles. Maxus says an 80% charge with a DC charger takes 42 minutes, while a full charge with an AC charger can be completed in 7.5 hours. Cabin equipment includes a 12.3in infotainment touchscreen with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity, USB and voice control while driver assistance systems include adaptive cruise control, lane departure warning, lane keep assist, a 360-degree camera system, a rear sensor, and a speed limit ID system.
The eDeliver 5, like all new Maxus vehicles, is now available with the Hi Maxus driver assistance system. Functions include remote access to lock/unlock doors, control windows and sunroof, start/stop the engine, honk the horn or control lights remotely, vehicle status monitoring to check doors, windows, sunroof and tyre pressure with alerts for any tampering, the ability to locate the vehicle and set destinations and comfort control to set the cabin temperature.
Prices for the eDeliver 5 start at a competitive £34,000 excluding VAT, and customers will also be able to take advantage of the Plug-in-Van- Grant (PiVG) of up to £5,000. By way of comparison, the Vauxhall Vivaro Electric Pro is priced at £40,480, excluding VAT and including the PiVG.
The model has been available to order from June, with the first deliveries expected in August.
There is some crossover in terms of loading capacities and range between the eDeliver 5 and the short-wheelbase version of the eDeliver 7 medium van, which Maxus introduced in the first quarter of 2024.
The eDeliver 7 is available with either 77kWh or 88kWh batteries, giving respective ranges on the WLTP combined cycle of 200 and 230 miles. Payloads go from 1,025kg to 1,200kg and load volumes progress from 5.9m3 to 6.7m3 to 8.7m3. Barrett predicts the eDeliver 5 will appeal more to fleets and the eDeliver 7 more to the "BBC (butcher, baker, candlestick maker) market" due to its higher-specced interior.
He claims customers do not obsess over payload and load volume capacities but look for a van that "will do me for [carrying my] tools"
Barrett says that as the electric van market matures range anxiety will reduce and buyers will choose vans to suit their requirements.
"Customers will specify more to [their] application as the EV market moves forward," he says.
"Why get a 77kWh battery when a 65kWh will do?"
Barrett cites the medium vans from Stellantis as well as the Toyota Proace, which shares their platform, as rivals for the eDeliver 5 and claims the eDeliver 7 can compete with the Ford E-Transit Custom.
We drove the eDeliver 5 in L1H1 mode. An unusual ignition system means the van is ready to go when unlocked and placed in D (drive) or R (reverse). It has three driving modes of Eco, Normal and Sport, which deliver distinct levels of performance, with acceleration sluggish in Eco but far zippier in Sport, leaving Normal as the happy medium.
It also has three regenerative braking modes, with the strongest retardation setting making one-foot driving easy in urban situations, the mid-setting reducing the severity of the braking, and the third mode allowing coasting on open roads, so there is less need to press down on the accelerator to keep up with the flow of traffic.
The van handles well even when pushed quite hard, with a surprising amount of feedback through the electric power steering. Driving modes are selected on the steering wheel, which is height adjustable. The driver's seat is manually six-way adjustable but the double passenger bench seat in our van was fixed and there is no fold down table in the middle perch. The ride is on the firm side but comfortable enough, at least for the driver. The middle passenger seat is too tight to consider taking three occupants on anything but the shortest of journeys. The cabin features an overhead shelf, but little else in the way of storage provision other than small nets in the doors, which are not likely to prove durable. Overall, the cabin materials are cheap but befitting of the eDeliver 5's budget price tag.
Likewise, the side loading doors did not fix into place when opened but slid closed and the detachable arms to hold the rear doors open are flimsy.
