Here’s the uncomfortable truth about electric vans: many can’t carry as much as the diesel van they’re replacing. The batteries that power them are heavy, and that weight comes directly off your legal payload capacity. If you’re a builder who regularly loads up with plasterboard and tools, or a courier shifting hundreds of parcels, this isn’t just a minor inconvenience. It’s a fundamental question about whether an electric van will actually work for your business.
I’ve spoken to more than a few tradespeople who’ve had a nasty surprise after going electric. The brochure said 1,000kg payload. They assumed that matched their old diesel Transit. Then they discovered their typical load put them over the legal limit. Let’s talk about what’s really going on, and which vans actually deliver on carrying capacity.
Why Electric Vans Carry Less
It’s all about the batteries. A typical large electric van battery pack weighs between 300kg and 600kg, depending on the capacity. That’s roughly the weight of four or five people, permanently installed in your van. Meanwhile, a diesel fuel tank when full might weigh 60kg. The manufacturer’s Gross Vehicle Weight (the maximum your van can legally weigh when loaded, including the driver) doesn’t change just because you’ve gone electric. So that battery weight comes straight off what you can carry.
Take the Ford E-Transit as an example. The 3.5-tonne diesel Transit Custom offers around 1,300kg payload in typical specifications. The electric version? You’re looking at roughly 1,000kg to 1,100kg, depending on battery size and body style. That’s 200kg to 300kg less, which matters if you’re anywhere near your limits.
Real-World Examples by Trade
Light Loads: Plumbers and Electricians
If you’re a plumber or electrician, you’re probably fine. Your typical load is tools, pipes, fittings, maybe a boiler. Unless you’re shifting radiators all day, you’re likely looking at 200kg to 400kg total. Even the smaller electric vans like the Vauxhall Combo Electric (payload around 750kg) or Citroen e-Berlingo (similar figures) will work perfectly well. You’ve got headroom to spare.
Medium Loads: General Builders
This is where it gets trickier. A builder carrying plasterboard, timber, cement bags, and a full tool kit can easily hit 600kg to 800kg. Your diesel van handled this without breaking a sweat. With an electric van, you need to think carefully. The Renault Master E-Tech, in its best configuration, offers around 1,100kg payload. That works. The smaller Maxus eDeliver 3 manages around 900kg, which might be tight.
Heavy Loads: Couriers and Delivery Drivers
If you’re doing parcel delivery and regularly filling every inch of load space, payload becomes critical. Parcels aren’t heavy individually, but volume adds up. A fully loaded large van with 200 parcels can easily reach 800kg to 1,000kg. You need the biggest payload figures available. The Mercedes eSprinter offers around 900kg to 1,000kg depending on specification. The Fiat E-Ducato can manage similar figures. But honestly, this is one area where diesel still has a clear advantage for the highest-capacity work.
How to Calculate What You Actually Need
Don’t guess. Spend a week weighing your typical loads, or at least making an honest list of what you carry. Include everything: tools, equipment, materials, and yes, yourself. Add 20% as a safety margin because you’ll occasionally carry more than average. That’s your real-world payload requirement.
Then compare it against actual electric van specs, not the maximum figure in the brochure. Manufacturers quote payload for the most basic specification. Add a few options (better seats, upgraded infotainment, parking sensors) and you can lose 50kg to 100kg. Ask the dealer for the exact payload figure for the specific van you’re buying, with all the options you want. Get it in writing.
Which Vans Offer the Best Payload
At the time of writing, the Renault Master E-Tech and Fiat E-Ducato are your best options for maximum carrying capacity in the large van category, both offering over 1,000kg in optimal configurations. The Ford E-Transit sits slightly behind but is still very competitive.
For medium vans, the Vauxhall Vivaro Electric and its siblings (Peugeot e-Expert, Citroen e-Dispatch, Toyota Proace Electric) all offer around 1,000kg to 1,100kg, which is genuinely decent. The Ford E-Transit Custom typically manages around 1,000kg.
Small vans are tighter. The Vauxhall Combo Electric, Peugeot e-Partner, and Citroen e-Berlingo cluster around 750kg to 800kg. The Renault Kangoo E-Tech is similar. That’s workable for light trades but not much more.
What If You’re Over the Limit
You have three options. First, carry less. Not helpful, I know, but sometimes removing rarely-used tools or equipment gets you legal. Second, look at vans with higher Gross Vehicle Weights. Some electric vans are available in 4.25-tonne variants, which require a different driving licence but offer more payload. Third, and most honestly, stick with diesel for now. If your business genuinely needs the payload, forcing an electric van to work isn’t just impractical, it’s potentially illegal.
The payload problem is real, and it’s the main reason electric van adoption isn’t happening faster in heavy-duty trades. If you’re a spark or a plumber, you’ll be fine. If you’re shifting building materials all day, do the maths carefully before you commit. Battery technology will improve and weights will come down, but right now, you need to work with what’s available. Measure twice, as they say.