Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles has added a plug-in hybrid version to the Volkswagen Transporter range for the first time, giving operators another option alongside diesel and electric models.
The new Transporter eHybrid is available as a Panel Van, Kombi and Shuttle, with prices starting from £38,155 excluding VAT. Volkswagen says the plug-in hybrid can travel up to 35 miles on electric power, depending on the body style.
The Transporter eHybrid uses a 2.5-litre petrol engine, electric motor and 11.8kWh battery, with power sent through a CVT automatic gearbox. The battery can be charged from empty to full in four and a half hours using a 4kW AC charger.
For van operators, the useful point is not outright electric range but whether that range fits regular daily use. A 35-mile electric range could cover short urban trips, local deliveries or low-mileage site work if the van is charged regularly. For longer journeys, the petrol engine takes over, which gives the plug-in hybrid more flexibility than a fully electric van but less electric running than a pure EV.
Volkswagen quotes a payload of 1,132kg and towing capacity of 2,300kg for the plug-in hybrid Panel Van. That should keep it relevant for many working users, although operators will still need to compare payload, charging access and total running costs against the diesel and electric versions before choosing the right Transporter for their business.
The current seventh-generation Transporter is also a very different vehicle from previous Volkswagen vans. It was jointly developed with Ford and is closely related to the latest Ford Transit Custom, rather than being a wholly Volkswagen-developed model. That platform-sharing arrangement gives Volkswagen access to the same basic plug-in hybrid hardware already used in Ford’s van line-up, while keeping the Transporter badge, styling and Volkswagen dealer support.
The plug-in hybrid Transporter arrives as more van operators are looking for lower-emission options but are not always ready to move straight to a fully electric van. A plug-in hybrid can make sense for businesses that can charge regularly and do a lot of short local journeys, but it is much less convincing if it is mostly driven long distances without being plugged in.
Volkswagen’s wider Transporter range already includes diesel and electric versions, so the new eHybrid gives operators another option rather than replacing existing powertrains.
The Transporter eHybrid is available to order now from Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles van centres.
