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Iveco’s E6 Daily van and cab-chassis range recently welcomed an electric twin in the form of its new eDaily variant. Launched in Europe in late 2022, it represents the first Iveco full-electric vehicle range to be offered in Australia.
Being based on the conventional diesel Daily ensures eDaily customers will be familiar with the specifications and features of these vehicles in either van or cab chassis form.
The eDaily also ensures a seamless transition for commercial bodybuilders, given that its main electrical components sit wholly within the conventional chassis frame and the body-mounting positions are unchanged.
We recently spent a working week with the full-electric model to assess its credentials for not only tradie duties but also door-to-door distribution, cold-chain logistics and many other job requirements at the Light Duty end of the Heavy Commercial vehicle market.
Does it represent good value for the price? What features does it come with? 8/10?
8 / 10
Our eDaily 42S test vehicle comes standard with a single electric motor, single-speed transmission and modular underfloor traction battery system (see Drivetrain). Iveco is yet to confirm local pricing, so our score in this section is focused purely on standard features.
Being based on the conventional Daily, it comes equally well equipped for work duties with robust steel wheels and 235/60R16C tyres with a full-size spare, LED headlights, DRLs, fog lights, heated truck-style mirrors and more.
The keyless-entry cabin, which is separated from the cargo bay by a solid bulkhead, offers fabric-trimmed seating for three across a driver’s bucket seat and two-passenger bench seat.
The driver’s seat has a built-in suspension system which can be adjusted to suit different driver weight and it has heating, adjustable lumbar support and a fold-down inboard armrest.
There’s also an electronic parking brake, leather-wrapped steering wheel with height/reach adjustment and multiple remote controls, wireless phone-charging, auto climate control, a multimedia system with digital radio/Apple CarPlay/Android Auto/Bluetooth connectivity and lots more.
Is there anything interesting about its design? 8/10?
8 / 10
Our test vehicle rides on a 3250mm wheelbase, which is the shortest of three wheelbases eDaily van buyers can choose from. Its external dimensions are 6087mm length, 2660mm height and 2057mm width.
The robust body-on-frame design uses a traditional ladder-frame truck chassis with torsion bar front suspension, a leaf-spring live rear axle and four-wheel disc brakes.
Its dual slimline batteries (a third can be added for the longest wheelbase variant to increase range) are located within the chassis frame beneath the cargo bay’s floor, which preserves internal heights and load volumes equivalent to the diesel van’s.
The electric motor and transmission are mounted behind the batteries and the battery charging port is conveniently located behind a spring-loaded flap in the centre of the grille.
Other differences between the diesel and electric variants are the eDaily's revised gearshift and instrument display, plus a dedicated EV data menu in the multimedia touchscreen.
How practical is its space and tech inside? 9/10?
9 / 10
With its 4250kg GVM, our test vehicle has a 1553kg payload rating. It’s also rated to tow up to 3500kg of braked trailer and with a 7750kg GCM it can legally haul its maximum payload while towing its maximum trailer weight, which is a handy set of numbers for work duties.
The cargo bay, which offers up to 12 cubic metres of load volume, is accessed through a large kerbside sliding door or rear barn-doors that open to 270-degree angles to optimise forklift and loading dock access. Their hinge mechanisms also offer strong resistance to closing (by strong winds etc) when in this fully-opened position.
The cargo bay is 3540mm long, 1740mm wide and 1900mm high with 1317mm between the rear wheel-housings. Therefore, it can carry up to three standard 1165mm-square Aussie pallets or up to four 1200 x 800mm Euro pallets, held in place with a choice of 10 load-anchorage points.
In that context, there’s also a large open compartment above the driver’s cabin which is ideal for storing straps, ropes, load-padding etc.
The load floor has a protective liner and the walls and sliding door are neatly lined to roof height. There’s also bright internal LED lighting front and rear and the sturdy metal bulkhead separating the cabin from the cargo bay has protective metal mesh over its central window.
Driver comfort is excellent and passenger seating has not been overlooked. This is most evident in the central position, where even tall people with large boots (like me) can sit with both feet unhindered on a flat floor and with sufficient knee clearance from the dash. There’s also a small handle on the right side of the central seat for extra support when needed.
Ample cabin storage includes three tiers of bins in each door, with the largest central tier offering dedicated small and large-bottle holders.
There’s also small-bottle/cupholders on either side of the dash, a wireless phone-charging pad in the centre and a full-width overhead shelf, while passengers have access to a large open shelf in the dash above the single glove box.
The bench seat’s base cushions tumble forward to reveal a huge storage compartment below and the centre seat’s backrest folds forward to reveal a work desk, which incorporates a lined storage compartment topped by a handy removable clipboard.
What are the key stats for its motor? 8/10?
8 / 10
The eDaily is equipped with a single electric motor that drives the rear wheels through a single-speed transfer case. Iveco claims it produces up to 140kW of power and 400Nm of torque.
The motor offers a choice of three drive modes comprising 'Normal' (default), 'Power' and 'Eco', selected by a switch next to the gearshift. The driver can also select three grades of regenerative braking, to provide different levels of retardation and battery charging.
It also has a ‘Hi-Power’ function which can deliver increased power and torque outputs for short periods by pressing the accelerator pedal beyond its normal finishing point. This feature can be handy when hauling and/or towing heavy loads in hilly terrain or when overtaking.
Also available is a ePTO (Power Take Off) unit with up to 15kW and 400V to provide energy for refrigeration, cranes and other structures. Power supply from the traction batteries makes it possible to use the ePTO even when the vehicle’s electric motor is switched off.
What is its driving range? What is its charging time? 8/10?
8 / 10
Our week of testing was conducted with a one-tonne payload and covered a variety of driving conditions including suburban, city and motorway. We also switched between the different drive modes, with most conducted in the Normal (default) setting.
Starting with 100 per cent battery charge, we covered a total distance of 172km. At the completion of our test, the instrument display was showing 26 per cent of battery charge and 38km of driving range remaining.
This compares well with Iveco's claim of an official WLTP-tested (unladen) driving range of up to 200km from our test vehicle’s dual traction batteries, which have a combined capacity of 77kWh.
So, given we were hauling one tonne of payload the whole time, the estimated driving range in real-world use is a credible claim.
Charging using the standard AC 11kW onboard charger takes around six hours, 20 minutes. The optional AC 22kW onboard charger halves that to around three hours, 10 minutes, while the premium DC 80kW option can complete a 20-80 per cent charge in about 30 minutes.
What’s it like to drive? 8/10?
8 / 10
The combination of a heated and multi-adjustable suspension seat, height-reach adjustable steering wheel and ample footwell space ensures drivers of most heights and weights can stay comfortable during long days on the road. A driver’s left footrest would be welcome, though.
As you’d expect, it’s almost eerily quiet to drive with virtually no drivetrain noise, even at highway speeds when it can feel like you’re riding in a tram rather than a van.
This creates a calm working environment unmatched by conventional powertrains. In fact, it’s so quiet that by law it emits a loud external chime at speeds below 30km/h to warn pedestrians of its approach.
The eDaily displayed good ride quality and sure-footed handling with one tonne of payload onboard, fortunately without the harshness over large bumps that we’ve previously detected in these vehicles in conventional form.
Although the electric drivetrain proved competent at hauling this load in all conditions, we didn’t detect a huge difference in response between the various drive modes. However, all are efficient in getting the job done, including the energy-saving Eco mode which caps the top speed at just under 100km/h.
By contrast, the most aggressive setting for regenerative braking results in such strong retardation that you can literally engage in one-pedal driving (accelerator only) as the brake pedal is rarely required. This setting is also the most effective in maintaining battery charge levels.
What safety equipment is fitted? What safety rating? 8/10?
8 / 10
There are no ANCAP ratings for Heavy Commercial vehicles but the 42S comes standard with numerous passive and active safety features including driver, passenger and curtain airbags, AEB, a reversing camera, lane-keeping, an extensive list of electronic stability programs and more.
However, blind-spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic alert are notable omissions, which are standard on some e-rivals.
What warranty is offered? What are its service intervals? What are its running costs?
The eDaily’s battery warranty is eight years/250,000km, but Iveco is yet to confirm vehicle warranty and servicing arrangements, so we are unable to award a score for this section of the review.
Verdict
Emissions-free and noise-free urban travel are desirable attributes, which in addition to its competent load-hauling performance ensures the Iveco eDaily has plenty to offer, particularly if paired with the convenience of back-to-base overnight charging. However, local pricing, warranty and servicing are yet to be announced, so potential buyers will have to wait before they can determine if the eDaily is the best match for their business.
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