5 Best Electric Cargo Vans for Professionals [With Table]

Why You Need an Electric Cargo Van for Your Business

Electric vehicles are more energy-efficient than internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicles and produce zero emissions while driving and idling. As many companies are looking to reduce their carbon footprint as part of bigger environmental, social, and governance (ESG) goals, EVs will likely be your fleet’s path to supporting a healthy planet.

With an electric cargo van, fleets can reduce downtime without compromising on safety features, upfitting and customization, space and comfort, storage options, and more.

Which Businesses Typically Use Electric Cargo Vans?

Electric cargo vans are used by professionals across a variety of industries, including last-mile delivery, utility companies, contractors, construction companies, all aspects of food and beverage, and more.

Benefits of using electric cargo vans include home or overnight depot charging, predetermined routes, reduced maintenance, and no risk of breaking city idle laws, which means fleet drivers can focus on their routes and make more deliveries in a day.

Comparison Table

Here’s a list of the current electric cargo and step vans in and soon-to-be in production. This information was compiled from the Merchants Electrify Fleet EV Finder tool and is subject to change as more data and new models become available.

Best Electric Cargo Vans

Ford e-Transit
The Ford e-Transit is the electric version of the best-selling Ford Transit van. Drivers have their choice of three roof heights and body lengths. The battery is stored beneath the cargo floor and doesn’t impede cargo space. With an 89-kWh battery, the e-Transit reports a range of 143–159 miles depending on the roof height. It also seats up to two passengers.

Notable Achievements

• Winner of the 2024 Vincentric Best Fleet Value in America Award
• Gold Award for Advanced Driver Assistance Systems from Euro NCAP
• 2022 Green Car Product of Excellence from Green Car Journal

Model Specs

• Roof: Low, medium, or high
• Body Length: regular, long or long-EL

BrightDrop Zevo 600

The Brightdrop Zevo 600 (formerly EV600) has been built from the ground up for the needs of last-mile and longer delivery. This light-duty vehicle has a range of 272 miles. The Ultium battery system is stored under the floor so as to not impede cargo space. The BrightDrop EV600 has a standard cargo area security system and shifting cargo load motion sensors.

Notable Achievements

• One of 10 vehicles to win the 2023 Green Car Product of Excellence award from Green Car Journal
• Winner of the 2022 Commercial Green Car of the Year award from Green Car Journal
• Fastest built vehicle (from concept to commercialization) in General Motors’ history (20 months)

BrightDrop Zevo 400

Designed for small, frequent deliveries, this mid-size EV cargo van is ideal for last-mile delivery. Its less-than-20’ frame can fit in a standard parking space but doesn’t compromise on storage. The Brightdrop Zevo 400 (formerly EV410) has an extensive list of safety features and comes equipped with a security system to protect cargo.

Notable Achievements

• Coming soon

Arrival H3L3

The Arrival was developed to help drivers maximize functionality for real-world use. Features include real-time vehicle health monitoring and predictive maintenance to reduce downtime. The Arrival van also has a focus on comfort and safety, with extensive characteristics in each category.

Best Features Rankings

Best Estimated Range

1. Tie between BrightDrop Zevo 400 and 600: 250 miles
2. Arrival H3L3 (111 kWh battery): 180 miles
3. Arrival H3L3 (89 kWh battery): 150 miles

Best Storage Capacity in Cubic Feet

1. Brightdrop Zevo 600: 600 ft3
2. Ford e-Transit (Extended body high roof): 487 ft3
3. Ford e-Transit (Long body high roof): 404 ft3

Best Payload (most, in pounds)

1. Arrival H3L3 (67 kWh battery): Up to 3,907 lbs.
2. Ford e-Transit (Long body low roof): Up to 3,700 lbs.
3. Ford e-Transit (Regular body low roof): Up to 3,800 lbs.

Tallest (Interior)

1. Brightdrop Zevo 600: 82 inches
2. Ford e-Transit Long: 81.5 inches
3. Ford e-Transit EL: 81.5 inches

The Future of Electric Vans for Fleets

Increasingly consumers and employees are looking to buy from and work for companies and organizations that are committed to sustainability. Implementing electric vehicles is one of the quickest, easiest, and most effective ways for companies to demonstrate that commitment, with benefits such as reduced tailpipe emissions, supporting clean energy initiatives, and improving the overall community in terms of reduced air pollution and noise.

As electric vehicle battery prices have come down, so has the sticker price, which means it’s a great time for fleets to start integrating this type of technology. And a greater number of reputable manufacturers are now producing EVs, including General Motors, Nissan, Ford, Rivian, Hyundai, Mercedes-Benz, and Volkswagen.

At Merchants Fleet, we have more than 60 years of knowledge and experience with EVs and ICE vehicles. We have an extensive, growing inventory of EV fleet options and a wide variety of fleet support programs, including telematics, maintenance, consulting, leasing, and more.

Contact a fleet electrification expert to see how we can help at every step of your electric vehicle adoption journey.