Citroen e-Berlingo Panel Van Electric review (2021 - )

Citroen's zero-emission small van takes the standard Berlingo and adds the electric powertrain used in cars such as the Peugeot e-208 and Vauxhall Corsa-e. That means the electrics, motor and battery have been designed to fit within the platform of a combustion-engined model. Compromises often have to be made when manufacturers transition a vehicle to electric power, but thanks to a clever use of space the e-Berlingo doesn't compromise on cargo or passenger space, and it's available in the same M, XL and XL Crew Van styles as the diesel van. This is thanks to the innovative decision to stow the vehicle’s battery under the vehicle’s loadspace floor rather than simply putting them wherever they’ll fit. The e-Berlingo M comes with a single sliding side door and twin rear doors, and there's a 3.3 cubic metre cargo space. The XL version also has twin rear doors with the addition of twin sliding side doors as standard, and these open into a cargo area that measures 3.9 cubic metres. The XL Crew Van uses the same body shell as the XL, but adds a second row of three seats that are built into the sliding and folding bulkhead that creates 3.5-4 cubic metres of space behind the front seats. The cargo area in all the vans is square in shape with little wheel arch intrusion, and there's enough space to fit a pair of Europallets inside. Diesel versions of the Berlingo have payloads of up to one tonne, but the maximum of 800kg available in the e-Berlingo is close to class-leading. The M and XL vans feature a steel bulkhead, while higher-spec models come with Citroen's Extenso twin passenger seat and load-through bulkhead. This offers an extra half a cubic metre of cargo space when the passenger seats are folded, which is accessed via a hatch in the bulkhead - very useful for drivers needing to carry longer thinner items such as piping or longer lengths of wood. This practical system is also available as an option on lower-spec e-Berlingos.

The cab of the e-Berlingo is the same as that for the combustion-engined van, but with a few subtle differences. You get a lot of durable black plastic and hard-wearing seat fabric with a two-seat layout on the basic versions. This can be upgraded with the Extenso pack that's standard on higher-spec vans, which adds a twin passenger seat - although be prepared for some arguments about knee and shoulder space when travelling with 3 people. Extenso also adds a fold-down table in the back of the middle seat, while the twin seats fold flat to reveal the through-loading bulkhead. As already mentioned, the layout is identical to the diesel vans, except for a few minor changes. The centre of the dashboard features the same extended pod as the manual van that restricts centre-seat legroom a little, but the gear lever is replaced by a toggle drive selector and is flanked by an electric handbrake switch and drive mode selector, while vans equipped with the Worksite Pack add a rotary dial for use with the Grip Control system. On the driver information display behind the steering wheel, the rev counter is replaced by an energy flow meter and a new gauge showing energy consumed by the air conditioning or other systems that might drain the battery. The electric model also offers drivers the same generous cabin storage as the diesel versions. The glovebox is big enough to take a small laptop, there's dashtop storage, overhead shelves and big door bins. The XL Crew Van's back seats are firm and probably best suited for short trips, while the window glass for the sliding side doors is an option and doesn’t come as standard.

A Citroen e-Berlingo costs more than it does a combustion engined-model with the same power (although leasing will spread the cost in affordable monthly payments), but there are generous tax breaks and cheaper servicing costs, while topping up with electricity is still more cost-effective than filling up with diesel. Yes, energy costs have risen significantly lately, but avoid public charge points and it will still be cost-effective to run an electric van over a diesel version. And if you need to drive in a low-emissions zone, any negatives about switching to electricity will be put to rest when you don’t have to pay any charges. With fewer moving parts to look after, service intervals for the e-Berlingo are every two years or 25,000 miles, depending on which comes first - although the first service is due after 12 months. Citroen offers a 3-year/100,000-mile warranty with the e-Berlingo, but it's worth noting that some rival vans in the class (including some of the other Stellantis small electric vans) are provided with longer warranty coverage.

Generally speaking, there are fewer moving parts in the powertrain of an electric van, so there's less to go wrong. What's more, the Citroen e-Berlingo shares its running gear with a variety of other models within the larger Stellantis group that Citroen is part of - including the larger Citroen e-Dispatch and identical vans from Peugeot, Vauxhall, Fiat and Toyota. Find out more about the larger Citroen van in our e-Dispatch review. The powertrain is also used by the Peugeot e-208, e-2008, Vauxhall Mokka Electric and Corsa Electric. The current-generation Berlingo is the third edition and it arrived in 2018, but the platform can trace its roots to the previous generation Berlingo and tech used by the former PSA Group's passenger cars. This longevity holds the e-Berlingo in good stead when it comes to reliability.

There's a 136hp electric motor under the bonnet of the e-Berlingo, which drives the front wheels. It's connected to a 50kWh battery pack located under the loadspace floor. This combination offers a range of up to 171 miles, although Citroen is clear that this range is only possible when conditions permit. Cold weather has a negative impact on the battery, which can shorten the range by 50 per cent in the worst circumstances, while turning on the heater or air conditioning also contributes to this. Next to the drive selector is a switch that allows drivers to select one of three driving modes that change the character of the e-Berlingo: Power, Normal or Eco. By default, the e-Berlingo starts in Normal mode, and this is perfectly acceptable in most situations. You don't get the full power output (it's limited to 110hp in this mode), but the van never feels slow, with punchy responses off the line. If you do need some extra power, the originally-named Power mode unlocks the full 136hp, but with it comes a snappy throttle response that you will need to reprogram your foot to take control of. Bit of advice here, unless you're making maximum use of the e-Berlingo's 800kg payload capacity, this mode knocks at least 10 miles off your range as soon as you select it. At the other extreme, Eco mode adds 10 miles of range, but it does this by limiting power to 82hp and restricting the climate control system. We’d only encourage using Eco mode if you need the extra range to get to a charge point. There's 100kW charging capability in the e-Berlingo, which means charging from zero to 80% capacity can take 30 minutes from a DC point. From an AC wallbox, it's 7.5 hours to charge a flat battery, while upgrading to the optional 11kW on-board charge reduces this time to five hours.

As a work vehicle, the Citroen e-Berlingo is a relaxing machine to drive. There's an extra 200kg of kerb weight when compared with the standard van (added by the drive battery), but an added benefit is that the ride is more comfortable. The extra weight irons out bumps where the standard model would bounce around. Thanks to the silent running of the electric motor, it's road and wind noise that cause the most disturbance when you're on the move. This is offset by a tight turning circle and light steering that offer good manoeuvrability around town, while Citroen offers the option of parking sensors and a couple of different camera systems to help keep you aware of your surroundings. As well as the Eco, Normal and Power drive settings, the e-Berlingo also has 'D' and 'B' settings for the transmission that change the van's response when you lift off the throttle. They adjust the amount of energy recovery that takes place, although the 'B' setting only works when some battery energy has been used - there’s no point storing charge when you’re already at 100% charge. In 'D' mode, the van coasts freely as if it's rolling along in neutral, and there isn't much energy recovery at lower speeds. Switch on the 'B' setting with the press of a button on the dashboard, and there's more resistance to be felt when you lift off. It's a similar feel to a manual gearbox into a lower gear. If you plan ahead, it can be a great alternative to applying the brakes that helps recoup energy. The 'B' setting is at its best in town, because at higher speeds it makes the throttle feel jerky, so it's hard to be smooth. If you are travelling faster, then 'D' mode does recoup some energy. Overall, the e-Berlingo is comfortable and easy to drive, while the location of the battery under the cargo floor means the extra weight doesn't cause the van to roll excessively in corners - something you’ll more often experience when a diesel van is driven unloaded.

Introducing car-derived running gear to the e-Berlingo means it comes equipped with a strong list of safety equipment. While a passenger airbag is still just an option on all versions, the e-Berlingo does come with an emergency call system, electronic traction and stability control, electronic parking brake, alarm, central locking and tyre pressure monitors. An automatic sound generator warns other road users of the van's presence when travelling at speeds below 20mph, while an optional safety kit includes blind spot monitors with front parking sensors. The Safety Pack is a suite of kit that adds lane departure warning, speed limit detection, active emergency braking and distance alert, auto main beam headlights, front fog lights and a driver tiredness alert all for extra cost. Well worth the upgrade if you’re a safety-conscious van driver.

The e-Berlingo is available in Enterprise and Driver trims. All models feature air-conditioning, cruise control with a speed limiter, electric windows, heated and electrically adjustable mirrors and a full-height steel bulkhead. There's an 8-inch touchscreen with DAB radio, Bluetooth phone connection and a USB socket, while Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity are also offered. Move to the Driver version, and you get sat-nav that comes with three years of connected services and a voice control system. Other extras include plastic wheel trims, auto lights and wipers, rear parking sensors and a camera, plus the Extenso through-loading bulkhead and twin passenger seat, plus it's the only version of the e-Berlingo that can be upgraded with a second sliding side door. Packs are available that bundle desirable options together, too. The Visibility Pack has rear and blind spot cameras that relay images to a screen in place of the rear-view mirror, and this also includes front and rear parking sensors - add this pack to Enterprise trim, and auto lights and wipers are also included. The Loading and Cargo Packs add LED lighting, more securing rings to the loadspace and a plastic floor covering, a 12V socket and a 220V plug socket. Finally, the Worksite Pack adds a full-size spare wheel, a raised ride height, under-body protection, Mud & Snow tyres, hill descent control and Grip Control switchable traction control for different surfaces.

If you're looking for a small electric van that will deliver low running costs, a decent range and lots of cargo space for urban work, then the Citroen e-Berlingo is a top choice. It's one of a number of vans that use the same running gear, and it's the same story for all of them, really - there's enough range for you not to worry about doing a day's work without recharging, but there's also enough on offer to allow you to undertake longer journeys if you need to. A simple line-up with three body styles, one powertrain and two trims to choose from makes picking the right version easy, while the electric powertrain means this is a van that's a lot more relaxing to drive than its combustion-engined counterparts. And yet it achieves this without compromising the versatility of the van on which it's based. So, if you’re looking at electric vans and wondering if they might work for your business, run through your own list of what you need it to do - if it ticks all the boxes, this award-winning van is one of the more competitively priced electric vans on the market and will make good on that investment. In short, the Citroen e-Berlingo has a lot going for it as a first step into electric work vehicles, and if you have the ability to charge it at home we think you’ll find this van will serve you and your business well for as long as you drive it.