LDV releases the eDelivery 7 electric work van

Update from the first drive at Launch 7 February 2024

Driving impressions

At the launch I had the opportunity to drive the eDeliver 7 in a host of conditions that are comparable to everyday driving for an owner.

This included some motorway driving along the M2 and M4. Some horror road stretches along the goat track our NSW government calls a road – Parramatta Rd. Inner urban suburbs and directly through the centre of the city – courtesy of a wrong turn.

First impressions are particularly positive. This is a good van. It looks good, goes well, is quiet, smooth, and comfortable.

I jumped out of my first drive nodding my head thinking to myself, yep this is a good van!

I said that already didn’t I.

My overall thought is that there is a significant difference between driving an electric van for a day and living with one where my business depended on it for survival.

I’m looking forward to the diesel version.

Interior comfort

Its comfortable inside with plenty of room for my larger than average bear frame to sit. Heaps of head room and leg room.

Driver’s seat is comfortable, with manual adjustment. But there is multiple adjustment available, even a manual lumbar support for my aging back. Good seating is paramount to driver ergonomics considering they spend all day usually getting in and out.

I liked the small thicker steering wheel. It felt good in the hands and provided excellent feedback.

The digital dash is clear and easy to read. There is no digital speedo function though.

There is no overhead storage which is a handy feature in some other vans.

The LDV habit of not shrouding the steering arm knuckle where it goes through the firewall is still obvious. Not sure why they do that, but it does grind against my left boot if I forget it’s there.

Unfortunately, smart phone connectivity is wired as is charging. There also isn’t really a good resting place for your phone. Again, not limited to LDV, many vans are lacking in this feature. Delivery drivers and van users are on their phone all the time.

But the call clarity was first class.

Also, the central screen touch sensitivity is a generation or two ahead of some other Chinese brands. It’s works on first touch.

That is an issue with some Chinese brands where you are pushing the screen 3-4 times before it registers your touch, then you find yourself somewhere you done want to be in the menu.

Cargo area

Elsewhere in this article I mention the volume capacity. The floor height is reasonable and easy to load. The large flat floor has a heap of well positioned tie down pints. The heavy-duty rubber flooring is standard. Bonus!

Only having one rear sliding door could prove inconvenient and a deterrent for operators. Rear doors will lock into place at either 90 or 180 degrees for extra accessibility.

Performance

I drove both the 77kWh short wheelbase and the 88kWh long wheelbase versions. I didn’t have an opportunity to drive the LWB high roof, but it won’t be much different.

Both had satisfactory performance. I didn’t notice a lot of difference between them.

Being electric with instant torque means zippy initial acceleration.

The eDeliver 7 buzzed around like it was on a caffeine high.

Both vans were responsive to accelerator and steering inputs.

One interesting note is that while LDV claim a range of 318km for the 77kWh and 362km for the 88kWh models we saw 400 plus on the range when I jumped in both. The good people from LDV explained this a new vehicle running in and it will adapt to your driving style as it goes.

Economy was around 20kWh/100km which is pretty good.

If they consistently have 400km plus range that’s a bonus.

I evaluated regenerative braking on both the 2 and 3 setting. There was a noticeable difference between the, 3 was one pedal driving, 2 was more roll-on driving style.

I’m sure swapping between the two is easy, I just didn’t have the time to work it out on the short drive.

Ride and handling.

Considering the vans that I drove weren’t loaded the ride was particularly good. Smooth, compliant (we love that word) and didn’t bump heavily over rough roads.

As you would expect from a van this size the eDeliver 7 was easy to manoeuvre in the urban jungle. Reverse parking took a touch getting used to as the reverse camera was clear, but slightly distorted and occasionally.

Sometimes I needed to reverse twice to get it straight. Mind you that could also be because I’m a bad driver.

On that note, frontal visibility is excellent, rear external mirrors also provided clear view. I couldn’t get the right hand one out as far as I would have liked, but it worked well.

I tended to use the external mirrors for reversing and the camera to make sure there was nothing in the way.

More thoughts about the LDV eDeliver 7

• It looks better in person with the smooth frontal lines. Much better than the Hyundai Staria Load, which polarises opinions.
• Access is easy for both front occupants.
• There is no fold down middle seat.
• The distance control function in the adaptive cruise control can be turned off, but it seemed a convoluted 4-5 step process that required turning off a few functions and I couldn’t get it to work. Mind you many drivers like the functionality and safety aspect. I hate it.
• There is a stylish digital touch AC control panel below the central screen. Problem is that in certain conditions, it completely goes dark. That proved problematic when entering a tunnel to see if I had the recirculation function on. I ended up stuffing around blindly. They are aware of that and it’s on the update list.

LDV eDeliver 7 what we know so far – January 29 2024

LDV eDeliver 7 – As businesses look to build sustainable fleets, electric vehicles are required to provide capability, comfort and value in a package that’s both commercially and economically viable.

Welcome to the all-new eDeliver 7, a fully-electric mid-size van from LDV, one of Australia’s leading commercial EV brands.

• ABN pricing from$59,990^
• Up to 362km range*; Capped Price Servicing~ available
• LDV is leading the charge of commercial EV vehicles in Australia

Aimed squarely at sole traders, SMEs, transport companies and corporate fleets who want to reduce their environmental footprint, the eDeliver 7 delivers for Australian businesses thanks to whisper quiet progress, reduced maintenance costs, zero battery impact on cargo space and, critically, price.

“With the all-new eDeliver 7, LDV set out to overcome the challenge of creating a commercially viable electric van for Australia,” says Dinesh Chinnappa, LDV General Manager.

“We have observed the success of aggressively priced, feature-packed passenger EVs that have arrived in the Australian market recently and have worked relentlessly with our partners in China to achieve the same outcome in our next commercial EV.

“The result has outdone even our expectations. In the all-new eDeliver 7, LDV has developed an electric van that can not only challenge the strongest competitors in terms of driving experience, safety, functionality and a commitment to reduced emissions, but do so at a price that reduces the cost of EV entry for businesses across Australia. Put simply, here is a mid-size van that doesn’t cost the earth.”

LDV Electric vehicles

The all-new eDeliver 7 is LDV’s fourth electric vehicle, alongside the eDeliver 9 large van, Australia’s first electric ute, the eT60, and the MIFA 9 electric people mover.

These well-earned EV hard yards have allowed LDV to develop one of the largest EV ready dealer networks in Australia, and nurture firm relationships with companies that are committed to a more sustainable corporate fleet.

Much like its EV siblings, the all-new eDeliver 7 demands no compromise from an operational perspective and continues to deliver exactly what’s needed from a commercial vehicle: range, features, price and ease of ownership.

LDV eDeliver 7 Design 

Four electric variants make up the eDeliver 7 range: a short wheelbase low roof; long wheelbase low roof model, available with either 77kWh or 88kWh batteries; and a long wheelbase high roof available with an 88kWh battery only. All are available to order in white, blue or black.

The all-new eDeliver 7 has redefined the boxy appearance of many white vans with its new futuristic face. Its distinctive and design-lead front grille with dusk-sensing LEDs portray the streamlined look of an EV while also serving as the larger air intake required to cool any later ICE variants.

LED rear tail-lights, rear barn doors with two-stage opening, and a single sliding side door complete the sleek aesthetic.

LDV eDeliver 7 Powertrains 

All-new eDeliver 7s have strong powertrain capabilities, thanks to batteries built in a joint venture between SAIC and China’s largest battery maker, CATL.

The standard 77kWh battery can achieve a pure electric range of up to 318kms* on the SWB low roof model and will take approximately 8hrs to charge on an 11kW AC home charger (5-100%), or approximately 43mins to charge from 20-80% on a rapid DC charger.**

The extended range 88kWh battery has a WLTP range of up to 362kms* on the low roof model, and will take approximately 9.3hrs to charge on an 11kW AC home charger (5-100%) – or approximately 43mins via a rapid DC charger (20-80%).** The battery powers an electric motor that drives the front wheels and delivers 150kW of power and an instantaneous 330Nm of torque.

The eDeliver 7 also comes with three power modes – Normal, Eco and Power. Depending on driver requirements, Eco mode can be selected to limit maximum speed to 90km/h and minimise power consumption when needed.

LDV eDeliver 7 Safety

Fleet operators expect and demand a vehicle to meet their needs across a broad spectrum of requirements, and LDV is confident that the all-new eDeliver 7 will meet the needs and expectations of the market.

Standard safety and driver assistance highlights include: Autonomous Emergency Braking; Adaptive Cruise Control with Stop & Go; Front Collision Warning; Emergency Lane Keep Assist and Lane Change Assist; Blind Spot Monitoring; Front & Rear Parking Sensors; and Rear Cross Traffic Alert.

A full list of Safety, Security and Driver Assistance details can be found in the specification sheet HERE.

LDV eDeliver 7 Practicality

The interior cabin of the all-new eDeliver 7 deploys similar design cues from its larger sibling eDeliver 9, with enhanced comfort features including heated steering wheel, fully-adjustable driver’s seat (height, slide, recline, lumbar support and driver’s armrest), keyless entry-keyless start, and a 12.3” touchscreen display loaded with Apple Car Play and Android Auto.

There are practical improvements at the rear as well. The 90°/180° rear doors can be fixed in place while the vehicle is on an incline to prevent them from being blown shut, and as with all LDV vans, eDeliver 7 comes standard with non-slip rubber flooring, a key safety requirement for fleet owners.

Cargo volume across the models range from 5.9m3 in the short wheelbase low roof, 6.7 m3 in the long-wheelbase low roof model and 8.7m3 in the long wheelbase high roof variant. Each comes with six tie-down points in the cargo area, single sliding door on the passenger side, and LED rear cargo lighting. Braked towing capacity is 1,500kg.

Pricing for the all-new LDV eDeliver 7 is sharp. With the appropriate ABN, the 77kWh SWB low roof model starts at just $59,990 rising to $61,990 for the LWB variant, both excluding on-road costs. The 88kWh LWB low roof variant is $64,990 excluding on-roads for ABN holders, rising to $66,990 excluding on roads for ABN holders for the LWB high roof.

Ownership costs

Every new LDV eDeliver 7 comes with a comprehensive 5yrs/160,000km (whichever comes first) new car warranty, 8-year/250,000km (whichever comes first) battery warranty and 5-year/unlimited kilometres Roadside Assistance.

LDV has also addressed the cost of ownership and scheduled servicing with the introduction of Capped Price Servicing~ on the eDeliver 7, following extensive consultation with a number of our largest courier and delivery fleet customers.

All-new eDeliver 7 customers can take advantage of the Capped Price Servicing~ programme which covers scheduled servicing for 6-years / 90,000km (whichever comes first) and costs just $1,166.10.

LDV eDeliver 7 Model details

Last thoughts

“We believe the all-new eDeliver 7 is one of the most competitive commercial EVs on the market today,” concludes LDV General Manager Dinesh Chinnappa.

“The combination of pure electric powertrains with sufficient range for the vast majority of customer requirements, a suite of ADAS features, huge payloads, sharp ABN pricing and capped price servicing all combine to deliver a compelling commercial offering for SMEs and fleet operators committed to greener transport solutions. The all-new eDeliver 7 is proof that commercial EVs don’t have to cost the earth.”

The all-new eDeliver 7 electric van is on sale now. Please visit https://www.ldvautomotive.com.au/ for more information.

All the footnote crap that the legal people love

*Range figure is based on WLTP (Worldwide Harmonized Light Vehicle Test Procedure) static laboratory combined average city and highway cycle test. Figures stated for the purposes of comparison amongst vehicles tested to the same technical procedures only. Actual real world driving results will vary depending on a combination of driving style, type of journey, vehicle configuration, battery age and condition, use of vehicle features (such as heating and air conditioning), as well as operating, environmental and climate conditions. The rated range displayed on the Energy Consumption label affixed to the car is calculated according to the ADR 81/02 NEDC based standard as defined by UNECE R101/01 (rather than the WLTP), so the range displayed on the label is different to that shown here.

**Charging times may vary based on factors including but not limited to charger type and condition, battery temperature, electricity supply, auxiliary consumables (e.g. air-conditioning) and environmental conditions. The time taken for successive rapid charging can take longer if the battery temperature activates the battery safeguarding technology. Please note that using a portable Mode 2 Charger from a regular 3-pin wall socket will not charge your electric vehicle battery at temperatures less than approximately 8 degrees Celsius or higher than approximately 30 degrees Celsius.

^ABN price excluding on-roads

~Capped Price Servicing terms, conditions and exclusions at https://www.ldvautomotive.com.au/vehicles/ldv-edeliver-7/