Maxus e Deliver9 (2021)

One of the big issues for any firm thinking of switching from diesel-powered transport to battery power is the question of range. With the Maxus e Deliver9, drivers get a range of 219 miles and a spacious van. The e Deliver9 has zero emissions with low running and maintenance costs. For those who may not be aware, the Maxus is the rebadged LDV range.

Following in the footsteps of the e Deliver3, the Maxus e Deliver9 is a capable and well-designed electric van. It’s not the most stylish of current offerings but it is available in medium and long-wheelbase guises with decent levels of power. There’s a lot to recommend the e Deliver9 and firms will need to work out carefully whether the higher price tag will be offset by the potential lower running costs.

MAXUS SAYS

The Maxus e Deliver9 has been constructed using 9.2m laser welding, the longest in the industry.

The structure is built from 54% high strength steel and has accumulated 2 million kilometres of whole vehicle environment testing verification. There is a strong design with emphasis on strength and payload.

SAIC (the owners of Maxus) are leaders in the technical revolution, continually leading the way in the development of new technology and solutions for the automotive industry.

A part of that revolution is being the market leaders in battery technology, and we have developed a number of battery options for the e Deliver9 using various battery cooling methods, which allows us to reduce charging time, extend battery life and increase the operating range.

The e eliver9 comes with a 150Kw motor producing 310Nm of torque and a choice of three batteries configurations.

Stay cool at all times with the e Deliver 9 air conditioning system. With our ever-changing climate, the importance of a good air conditioning system was always going to be a factor when it came to designing this vehicle.

The e DELIVER9 is equipped with electrically heated side mirrors ensuring greater rear-view visibility in all weather conditions. The lane departure warning system can determine whether the van is changing lane, even in low-visibility weather conditions. In the event of danger, an acoustic and visual signal alerts the driver of the potential impending threat.

While high beam recognition manages the activation and deactivation of the main beam headlights, increasing visibility and reducing the risk of dazzling when driving at night, automatically recognising vehicles driving in the opposite direction.

Reasons to buy

With growing numbers of electric vans being developed, there are good reasons to consider the Maxus e Deliver9. Firstly, it has a good range for meeting most firms’ needs of 219 miles, and it takes just 45 minutes to recharge the battery to 80% of its capacity. While Maxus has taken over the LDV mantle, this is a distinct offering from the new Chinese owners, and it is certainly worth shortlisting.

If you like the Maxus e Deliver9, then consider the Mercedes eSprinter or the Fiat e-Ducato.

Running Costs

One of the positives for switching to battery power is for the lower running costs and the Maxus e Deliver9 promises the same. This means that firms will get a battery-powered van that costs a few pence per mile to run – and the costs can be reduced further by signing up for a cheap, off-peak electricity deal.

Charging from a wall box in the workplace or home will take five hours, but the e Deliver9 is capable of rapid charging so drivers can recharge the battery to 80% of its capacity in 45 minutes.

There are three battery sizes available, 51.5kWh, 72kWh and 88.5kWh.

The maximum range is 219 miles, and the power comes from a 150KW electric motor.

Load Space

The cargo volume for the Maxus e Deliver9 with the medium-wheelbase is 9.7 m³, and the long-wheelbase variant has 11 m³. The maximum payload of the vehicle is 1,700 kg.

The e Deliver9 offers several variants including minibus, chassis and crew cab models.

Maxus says that there’s also a network of converters available to carry out bespoke van work, including refrigeration and mobility versions.

Technology & Safety

A big attraction for the Maxus e Deliver9 is for the list of standard equipment, including a 10-inch touchscreen, alloy wheels and air-conditioning.

Compared with its rivals, this is a van to offer lots of kit – including safety features – such as LED headlights, a reversing camera with a guide assist, a single side sliding door and a tyre pressure monitoring system.

There are also front and rear parking sensors, a multifunction steering wheel and electric powered steering, plus heated side mirrors.

Drivers also get a lane departure warning system, lane change assist system, cruise control, blind spot monitoring and automatic emergency braking.

Performance

The Maxus e Deliver9 offers a stable and well-built van and since the batteries are underneath the load space floor, this brings agility, particularly when cornering.

Getting in and out of the van, particularly for multi-drops is easy with the sliding side door. The rear doors have a wide opening.

The cabin has been designed for robust use and progress is swift from a standing start since the electric motor delivers all of the electric motor’s torque instantly.

For the money, there’s a lot to recommend the Maxus e Deliver9 but it’s not a rewarding drive, unlike some rivals, for example the Fiat e-Ducato offers stability and confidence behind the wheel, but the e Deliver9 is a functional and robust van.