By now you likely know that EV start-up Rivian, in addition to building consumer-oriented crossovers and pickup trucks, also builds electric delivery vans for Amazon. Based entirely on anecdotal evidence—I interviewed the drivers of several Rivian EDVs—the electric parcel-delivery vans are working out well for the online retail giant, and the drivers love them. Love them.
Turns out the vans are quieter and smoother riding than most commercial delivery vans, and they scoot away from a stop more quickly as well.
More cloudy are the economics of going electric. An increasing number of commercial operators are embracing electric vans for general-service and light-delivery functions, and these companies have a number of vehicles to choose from.
2025 Ram ProMaster EV
Note that fleet managers are a dispassionate bunch, and their forays into electric-vehicle adoption are unlikely to be driven (pun intended) by either green intentions or political rhetoric, instead, an EV would need to cost no more than a gas-powered alternative to operate, and require no more service or maintenance.
We’re at a point in the EV-growth process during which many fleets are now learning first hand how well electric vehicles can match the operational parameters of gas-powered equipment. Expect to learn more about commercial EV adoption in the next few years as feedback regarding these inaugural electric fleets comes available.
Ram recently introduced an EV version of its popular ProMaster large commercial van. New for 2024, the van arrives somewhat late to the market, as there are a number of alternative already available. Among them are the…
BrightDrop Zevo
Base Price: $76,600 (600)
Launched by General Motors as an independent company, BrightDrop was merged into Chevrolet in 2024, expanding the brand’s retail and service reach. BrightDrop currently offers two vans, the Zevo 400 midsize van, and Zevo 600 large van. Battery range runs from about 180 miles to 300 miles, depending on equipment.
Ford E-Transit
Base Price: $53,095
Launched in 2022, the E-Transit is an electric version of Ford’s popular Transit commercial van. Available in a number of configurations, the E-Transit has a battery range of about 160 miles.
Mercedes-Benz eSprinter
Base Price $61,180
New to the U.S. in 2023, the eSprinter is an electrified version of Mercedes-Benz’s popular Sprinter commercial van. The eSprinter has a range of about 250 miles.
Range
A word about range: During a typical day, most delivery vans remain close to the terminal out of which they operate. For this reason, range is not as much of an issue as you might imagine. Per one source, the average Federal Express and United Parcel Service (UPS) truck travels just 100-150 miles per day. Equipping a delivery truck to travel a greater distance would require a heavier battery, which would eat into both range and hauling capacity–and add to the base price of the truck. For this reason, the vans listed above are not equipped with larger batteries. As commercial EV-van adoption expands, longer-range vehicles will likely be made available for those applications requiring extended travel.
ProMaster EV
Introduced for 2024, the Ram ProMaster EV slots nicely into the electric commercial-van segment with specs and features that rival those offered by the existing competition.
Available at Ram dealerships with a Ram Commercial franchise, the new Ram EV delivery van is available now. Here’s a look at the new Stellantis electric van:
Specs
Base Price: $58,490
Configuration: Front motor/front-wheel drive
Wheelbase: 159 inches
Turning Radius: 46.8 feet
Payload: 3020 pounds
GVWR: 9350 pounds
Towing Capacity: 6410 pounds
Battery Capacity: 110 kWh
Charge Connection Type: CCS
Level-3 Charge Rate: Up to 150 kW
Power output: 268 horsepower, 300 pound-feet of torque
Range: Approximately 160 miles (at 50-percent of payload)
***
Note that approximately half of the 2400 Ram dealerships in the U.S. retail and service the ProMaster.
Listen to the Car Stuff Podcast
2025 Ram ProMaster EV Pictures
Click below for enlarged images
