Coming soon: Maxus eDeliver 7 medium van with 226-mile range

Key details of the Maxus eDeliver 7

• Mid-sized electric van with three body sizes, rivals Citroen e-Dispatch
• 77 or 88kWh battery options, up to 226-mile range and 90kW charging
• On sale in August this year

What is the Maxus eDeliver 7?

The eDeliver 7 is the latest addition to the rapidly growing electric van market, and the third electric model from Maxus.

Never heard of Maxus? It’s the artist formerly known as LDV, an iconic British van maker. A quick recap: the LDV brand was bought by Chinese automotive giant SAIC in 2010, and in 2020 SAIC decided to use the Maxus name instead.

Maxus now has a three-strong range of electric vans in the UK, with the new eDeliver 7 slotting in-between the smaller eDeliver 3 and the larger eDeliver 9.

The Maxus eDeliver 7 enters the increasingly crowded mid-sized electric van market, with three body sizes available. Competitors include the Citroen e-Dispatch, Toyota Proace Electric and Peugeot e-Expert, along with the Mercedes e-Vito.

The Maxus eDeliver 7 also beats a key rival to market, with the all-new Ford E-Transit Custom due on sale in Europe in 2024.

Why should I get excited by the Maxus eDeliver 7?

If you’re a business owner or fleet manager looking to make the switch to electric, it should be on your radar. The Maxus eDeliver 7 has a promising set of specs (including a range of up to 226 miles) and should back that up with a competitive price.

An all-new product rather than a rebodied version of existing Maxus models, the eDeliver 7 looks remarkably similar in shape to the existing Ford Transit Custom. Three panel van body sizes will be offered at launch offering different cargo capacities.

The smallest, the L1H1 size, is just under five metres long and two metres tall with a three metre wheelbase (the space between the front and rear wheels). Its cargo volume is 5.9m³ and its maximum payload is 1,200kg.

Stepping up to the L2H1 (long-wheelbase, low roof) increases the length to 5.36 metres and raises the cargo volume to 6.7m³, with a slightly lower payload of 1,135kg. Topping the range is the L2H2, with its 40cm higher roof, cargo volume of 8.7 cubic metres and 1,025kg payload.

What is the interior of the Maxus eDeliver 7 like?

Not as workmanlike as you may expect. Of course, there’s hard-wearing materials and wipe-clean rubberized flooring needed for the tough demands of delivery drivers and tradespeople, but there’s also quite a bit of technology as standard.

Every version of the Maxus eDeliver 7 comes with a 12.3-inch touchscreen infotainment system in the centre of the dash. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto is available to connect smartphones, too, while there’s also a wealth of standard safety kit including automatic emergency braking, driver tiredness monitoring, blind spot warning, parking sensors all-round and even a 360-degree camera system.

At launch the Maxus eDeliver 7 is a three-seater with no plans to offer an official crew cab, but it’s suggested that conversions will be available via specialists.

How much range can the Maxus eDeliver 7 get on a charge? 

Two battery sizes will be offered across the eDeliver 7 range, although the largest L2H2 version is only available with the largest 88kWh battery pack.

The smaller 77kWh battery is the one you want if maximum payload matters, as the weight of the extra cells gives the bigger battery models slightly less carrying ability.

Maxus hasn’t quoted the 77kWh battery’s range, but we know the 88kWh model will be capable of up to 226 miles on the official range test. That makes it one of the longest-range electric vans on the market today. Three driving modes – Eco, Normal and Power – help maximise available range, too.

There’s also rapid charging capability, with a peak DC rate of up to 90kW allowing a 20-80% charge in 43 minutes.

Power comes from a single electric motor powering the front wheels. It puts out 201bhp, enough, Maxus says, for a sprightly 0-62mph time of 11 seconds. The top speed is 90mph.

When will the Maxus eDeliver 7 be available to buy or lease? 

You’ll want to get your diary in order: Maxus will announce full pricing for the eDeliver 7 in June, and orders will be taken in August of this year. Deliveries are expected at the end of the year, and pricing is expected to sit between the eDeliver 3 and eDeliver 9

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