The van brand formerly known as LDV has a new large electric van. The 2021 Maxus eDeliver 9 is the big brother to the eDeliver 3 that launched in 2020, and promises a better driving range than any current rival as well as appealing pricing.
Available with a choice of three battery sizes and in two panel van body lengths – with chassis cab and minibus variants also on the way – the eDeliver 9 is the replacement for the old LDV EV80, and is based on the diesel-powered Maxus Deliver 9.
Pricing starts at a competitive £63,000 before incentives and subsidies, while maximum driving range is said to be 219 miles per charge.
We’ve now got even more technical detail and pricing info for this new electric van, and have updated this page accordingly.
Maxus eDeliver 9 technical specification
Maxus hasn’t given us full technical details yet, but we do know the eDeliver 9 is driven by what the firm calls a ‘high power, low energy’ electric motor that produces 150kW of peak power – equivalent to 204hp.
That’s more power than is available in any other larger van presently on sale in the UK, including diesel models, and is considerably more potent than any electric rival (at least until the 269hp Ford e-Transit goes on sale in 2022).
The initial info we received claimed the motor also provides 350Nm of torque, but a detailed spec sheet we’ve now seen suggests the figure is 310Nm. Either way, it’s less than some diesels can manage, but since electric vehicles generate their maximum torque instantly, it should certainly help the eDeliver 9 feel pretty lively.
On the other hand, maximum speed is limited to 62mph. Keeping this down will help the official driving range.
The three battery options are 51.5kWh, 72kWh and 88.55kWh. The first two are available in all models, while the last is only available in the larger, long-wheelbase van, giving this the greatest driving range of any version, despite also being the heaviest.
Maxus eDeliver 9 driving range and charging time
The maximum claimed driving range for the Maxus eDeliver 9 is 219 miles per charge. However, it would seem this is not a WLTP figure, as according to our latest info, the maximum WLTP driving range for the eDeliver 9 is 184 miles (296km).
This is for the largest 88.55kWh battery pack, only fitted in the largest van. The smallest 51.5kWh battery pack claims 112 miles (180km) per charge, while the mid-size 72kWh battery pack claims 146 miles (235km). All still highly competitive figures for a large electric van.
Maxus has also given us the WLTP energy consumption figures, which allows you to gauge actual efficiency based on the amount of electricity required to travel 100km (62 miles). The eDeliver 9 is rated 29.44-31.06 kWh per 100km.
Both AC and faster DC charging is possible. Thanks to what Maxus calls ‘various battery cooling methods’ helping to reduce the charging time, an 80% charge from a DC rapid charger takes 40-45 minutes, depending on the size of the battery.
AC charging, the sort you’re more likely to have at home or in the office, is claimed to give a full charge in 6-8.5 hours, which is still quite quick for this technology. That is using an 11kW AC charger, though; at the more common 7kW wallbox charger rating recharging will obviously take longer.
What about payload and dimensions?
The eDeliver 9 will come with a choice of 3,500kg and 4,050kg gross vehicle weight (GVW) options, offering a maximum payload rating of 1,700kg.
Lowest payload rating is for the largest version with the biggest battery, which at the 3,500kg GVW is limited to carrying 860kg. Worth remembering that while a regular driving licence is usually limited to 3,500kg GVW, for electric vans this limit is increased to 4,250kg, so anyone is able to drive the 4,050kg versions.
Either way, payload is highly competitive compared with electric large van rivals, beating the best the Renault Master ZE and Mercedes-Benz eSprinter can manage – though falling slightly short of the 1,885kg max of the Fiat E-Ducato.
Usefully, the eDeliver 9 is rated to tow, which isn’t always the case for electric vans. All versions have 1,500kg (1.5-tonne) towing capacity with a braked trailer (750kg with an unbraked trailer).
As for basic practicality, the Maxus eDeliver 9 has a load volume of 9.7 cubic metres in the medium wheelbase (MWB) MH variant and 11.0 cubic meters in the long wheelbase (LWB) LH version.
Minibus, crew cab and chassis cab models are also coming, and Maxus says it has a network of converters ready to provide businesses with more bespoke solutions, if required.
When does the Maxus eDeliver 9 go on sale and how much does it cost?
You can order an eDeliver 9 now, and Maxus expects to deliver the first customer vehicles in January 2021.
Basic pricing starts at £63,000 for the smaller MH van with the smallest battery, rising to £71,000 for the bigger LH model with the biggest battery, and by basic we mean excluding VAT, delivery, on-the-road costs and the UK government Plug-in Van Grant.
We hope to bring you a Maxus eDeliver 9 review very soon.
Also read:
>> The Parkers guide to electric vans
>> The best electric vans you can buy now
>> Ford E-Transit – full official details of 269hp, 217-mile electric van
