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What might the UK's cheapest electric van be like? Your expectations might not be high, but could be exceeded by this Chinese contender, the DFSK EC35. There are some drawbacks for the price, but it's small outside, yet big on cargo space - and priced like a diesel. Could be worth a look.
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Driving experience
This is a city van and it's definitely not at home beyond the urban sprawl. Approach it in that frame of mind and you shouldn't mind too much that the dinky 39kWh battery won't take you particularly far. Range is quoted at 166 miles - and that's only if you get the version limited to just 50mph; the alternative variant limited to a more acceptable 65mph can take you only 101 miles. Not that you'll be able to verify any of this because there's no mileage range display on the dashboard; just a percentage indicator showing the battery's remaining energy reserve.
Apart from that, there are two curious engineering features for a light van. One is the ladder-framed platform this DFSK sits on - the sort of thing you'd normally find under-pinning a pick-up truck. The other is the fact that the electric motor here (which puts out 80hp) drives the rear wheels, not the front ones. The other area of uniqueness is rather more concerning; this is one of the only vehicles now sold in our market without any sort of stability control system. That's only possible because this EC35 is going through Small Series Type Approval, rather than the Large Scale Type Approval process larger brands have to meet.
If this van will be doing any sort of out-of-town delivery work at all, that may well put you off. And if it doesn't, a drive in an EC35 around a few country lanes will certainly put you off. The combination of the tall body, slim tyres and the bouncy ride from the crude leaf-sprung rear suspension isn't a good one for traction and grip. But if this DFSK will only be used in town, then none of this may matter much.
On the move, the EC35 (like many vans) is far better off with a bit of load in the back. Apparently there's 200Nm of torque, but 62mph from rest (should you have a version able to reach this heady speed) takes over 20 seconds. At low speeds of up to 20mph, there's a loud warning noise alerting pedestrians, which is normal for an EV but this particular sound is high-pitched and quite intrusive.
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Design and build
DFSK isn't shy to visually copy other brands. This EC35's Loadhopper predecessor was perhaps best known for the fact that its nose section had a BMW-like twin kidney grille. That's vanished with this EV but if you know your vans, you might think that the overall looks closely replicate a shrunken version of the old Maxus V80. As usual with Far Eastern micro-vans, the EC35 is narrow and tall. The 4.5m length is the same as a conventional compact van (say a Citroen Berlingo), but it's around 10cm narrower and nearly 2m tall.
Given the price, your expectations won't be high in terms of cabin ambience and sure enough, there's plenty of shiny wipe-clean plastic and some very outdated-looking climate controls. But things are lifted a bit by the inclusion of an after-market Grundig 6.8-inch central touchscreen with built-in 'Apple CarPlay' and 'Android Auto'. The steering wheel can't be adjusted and the narrow cabin means the footwells are cramped, but at least the seats are reasonably comfortable - there are only two. Through the plastic wheel, you view a set of conventional instruments which, curiously for an EV, include an analogue rev counter. Storage space is at a bit of a premium, but you get a couple of cup holders, slim door pockets and a small glovebox.
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Market and model
DFSK wants around £21,000 for the EC35 (ex-VAT), after deduction of the UK government plug-in van Grant. To give you some class perspective, the cheapest Citroen e-Berlingo at the time of this review cost around £25,500. With this DFSK, you can choose either a longer-ranging version limited to a 50mph maximum speed, or a version with a slightly shorter range that manages 62mph flat out. The only options are accessories, rather than factory-fit items. The importers Innovation Automotive are planning to sell the EC35 through direct sales rather than via a dealer network.
There's only one trim level available, but it includes quite a lot: dual sliding side doors, a bulkhead with a built-in window, a full-sized spare wheel, a Type 2 charging cable, central locking and rear parking sensors. Inside, there's air conditioning and a 6.8-inch Grundig touchscreen with Bluetooth and a DAB audio system, plus 'Apple CarPlay' and 'Android Auto' smartphone-mirroring. And a built-in reversing camera.
The only listed safety item as a driver's airbag, though delving down into the fine print reveals that there are tyre pressure monitors too. There are no active driver aids at all. As for security, you get an immobiliser and an alarm is available as an accessory.
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Summary
So many UK businesses claim that all they're really looking for in a small city van is practicality, low price and low running costs. Well that premise is put to the test here because the DFSK EC35 arguably delivers on these objectives better than any other urban electric van out there. Should you care that it's not particularly comfortable outside the city limits, that it feels cheap inside, that it lacks a safety feature as basic as stability control or that it's from an unknown brand? Perhaps not.
If you can comfortably brush all these caveats aside (in which case you're probably not an owner driver), then certainly take a closer look at an EC35. Its petrol-powered Loadhopper predecessor sold mainly to local councils and we can see this electric model serving much the same market. It's well equipped, well warranted and will cost pennies to run. Which means there's absolutely an important place for it in this crowded market segment.
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