Hourly, Daily

The Iveco eDaily is an important piece for the OEM under the complete build up model it has adopted in recent years after the closure of its manufacturing facility in Melbourne.

One of the key considerations for Iveco when developing its electrified modular chassis platform was to maintain a synergy between its other Daily products hence the motto “the same Daily you are used to. Just electric.’

That’s certainly a selling point for anyone still uncertain about the practicality of electric vehicles in a commercial application.

The Iveco eDaily, as far as that regard, should dispel any remaining concerns longstanding diehard Iveco Daily customers might have about its feasibility in an intensive last mile role, especially commercial operators, as it will achieve what’s required from it provided it has access to an overnight charge.

While it is a relatively new product in the local market, the platform has ten years testing under its belt starting as an LCV in Europe where it likely encountered the negative 30-degree Celsius temperatures Iveco claims have been part of the vehicle’s rigorous evaluation.

The 42S model, driven for this road test, has 208 kilometres of range on two modular batteries and up to 120km/hr maximum speed although *spoiler alert* we won’t push it beyond 105. Iveco also offers the eDaily in three-battery versions that are upgradeable during vehicle life.

After a vehicle check finds a slow leak on the rear right tyre, we’re afforded the opportunity to go over the functions of the eDaily and look over a new dual control ACCO, before its promptly replaced and inflated to 46.0 psi for a better spread of tread on this rear-wheel-drive van.

After a brief delay we’re rolling out over the mean streets of Keysborough and set to surmount the newly completed roadworks which have just about been everywhere in Victoria for the past nine years, dodging potholes all the way.

In order to maintain a similar transformability as the Daily diesel equivalent, Iveco has been able to keep the same cargo volume of 12m³ on the 3520mm wheelbase variant.

For this drive the tray hold is loaded with an intermediate bulk container filled with the equivalent of one metric tonne of water.

The additional gravitational force is countered nicely by the regenerative braking which reduces the speed of the vehicle when the accelerator is not engaged. It’s especially useful in built up areas such as Cranbourne where there appears to be a red light apparently awaiting every next corner.

The applied tension regenerative braking brings to the axles will certainly be a welcome feature for drivers less accustomed to carrying payloads on battery electric vehicles.

Our version of the eDaily has a 1550kg payload and a GVM of 4.3 tonnes. Mild sunny conditions for late spring make culpable use of the air conditioning, one of the main drains on working batteries in an Australian summer, impractical even in a test drive like this one.

The plan is to evaluate the BEV on busy roads of the bustling southeastern suburbs and then to run it through an 80km/hr course peppered with roundabouts through scenic farmlands en route to the outer reaches of Western Port Bay.

The radio is a cinch to work and without any need to sit and study it for a period of time, we’re accelerating smoothly along the wide roads of a new industrial estate abandoning the talk radio left behind by the last driver for something more appropriate as we luck onto Grieg.

It suddenly brings a gravity to the experience as I’m extra mindful of getting across to the left lane to let trailing vehicles pass.

Even keeping to the speed limit, none, however, do, such is the eDaily’s responsiveness as I follow my nose towards the South Gippsland Highway.

In classical music the term accelerando is invoked to indicate a piece of music should be played with gradually increasing speed.

After the good fortune of moving through half a dozen traffic lights unabated for several kilometres it effectively describes our plight until the dream run comes to an abrupt end when the young driver of an unladen semi with an empty flatbed, used to carry heavy construction materials at a guess, realises he is in the wrong lane to commit to an offramp for the M1 and veers in front without an indicator forcing me onto the anchors.

Even so, braking the vehicle in fairly dense midday traffic at around 60 km/hr is excellent.

Inside the cab, the layout is sensible. There’s ample storage under the three comfortable seats.

I would have liked some more room for my inactive clutch leg which rests against the dash panel below where a lever is situated to shift between ‘Normal’, ‘Power’ and ‘Eco’ modes.

In ‘Power’ mode the 140kW/400Nm outputs feels readily available, especially from a standing start. The van functions in three defined drive modes.

These are the aforementioned Regenerative Braking, Sailing and Neutral. Sailing is suited to freeway commuting especially when there are descents in which the driver is periodically taking their foot off the accelerator.

The battery, not incidentally, is also depleted quickest in this mode.

As one of four eDaily vehicles currently doing the rounds in Melbourne, it’s an interesting experience being able to drive it now after seeing it as scarcely more than a chassis two years ago.

The view outside the windshield is exceptional and is complemented by heated sidemirrors and the now standard rear camera. The rear barn doors fold to 270 degrees and the large single sliding door provides plenty of head room upon ingress — a perennial consideration for us six-foot types.

The central charge point on the front grille is easy to access and comes with an LED to show battery level status. Iveco provides an eight-year warranty on batteries and up to 250,000km.

A full AC charge should take just over six hours. Iveco claims fast charging up to 80kW can add an estimated 100km of range in as little as 30 minutes.

An ePTO up to 15kW and 400V is available to provide energy for refrigeration and cranes. Power supply from the traction batteries makes it possible to use the ePTO even when the eMotor is switched off. The vehicle can be plugged into a domestic or industrial socket to access energy from the network to supply equipment, something that will appeal to tradies no doubt. It corners well despite the longer wheelbase.

At 6109mm in total length, it’s big enough to command serious commercial operations with potential as a hire removal vehicle suited to high density residential areas.

Because it’s a twin of the established diesel version, the eDaily takes a succession of roundabouts on a long stretch of rural road in its stride which might account for the positive camber en route to Warneet where swarms of dragonflies greet us from the large parcels of nearby mangroves.

The only real grade of any note we encounter is going over the overpass that joins the Dandenong Bypass as it extracts extra revs from the 400Nm motor.

Despite the old-fashioned key start, the Iveco eDaily is modern enough to make an immediate impression, conventional enough so as not to be alienating, and familiar enough so the driver finishes the day with the same amount of confidence that they started it with.