2021 Toyota Proace Electric van: specifications and on-sale date

Toyota has released new details of its Proace range of vans, including the Proace Electric – a sister model to the Vauxhall Vivaro-e, Peugeot e-Expert and Citroen e-Dispatch that'll also rival the Volkswagen Abt eTransporter. Electric vans have become popular with businesses due to exemption from the London Congestion Charge and other charges for driving in clean-air zones. 

Toyota will offer its new electric panel van in compact, medium and long body lengths, in addition to a 'Crew Cab' configuration with an extra row of seats and a platform cab for specialist applications.

The Proace Electric shares a platform with the Peugeot, Citroen and Vauxhall models mentioned above, and so offers the same choice of battery packs and electric motors. Entry-level and compact Proace Electric models will use a 50kWh battery and be capable of 143 miles of range, while the range-topping specifications will have a 205-mile range thanks to a larger 75kWh battery.

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With the battery under the floor, Toyota claims not only is there no effect on the Proace’s load capacity, but stability and rigidity are also improved due to the lower centre of gravity. Toyota aims to provide drivers with a no-compromise electric experience with the Proace Electric, which offers a towing capacity of one tonne. 

In Power mode, the front-axle-mounted electric motor produces 132bhp and 260Nm of torque. But it decreases to 106bhp and 210Nm of torque in Normal mode, while Eco mode lowers output to 79bhp and 190Nm of torque in order to maximise range. 

Both batteries support 100kW DC rapid charging, which will top up the Proace Electric’s battery to 80% in 32 minutes for 50kWh models and 48 minutes for vans featuring the larger unit. If rapid charging isn't available, the Proace is equipped with a 7.4kW on-board charger, but there's an option for an 11kW on-board charger for fast public or wallbox charging.

The Proace Electric has a standard payload capacity of one tonne, which can be optionally increased to 1.275 tonnes. The compact version's load volume of 4.6 cubic metres can be expanded up to 5.1 cubic metres with Toyota’s Smart Cargo system to extend the flat floor in the rear.

Similarly, the medium's load volume goes from 5.3 to 5.8 cubic metres with the Smart Cargo system fitted, while the long version's load volume can be expanded up to 6.6 cubic metres with the Smart Cargo in use – otherwise it's 6.1 cubic metres. 

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UK prices for the Proace Electric range have yet to be announced, but Toyota has confirmed it'll be available in three trim levels: Base, Comfort and Comfort Plus. All versions of the Proace Electric are equipped with Toyota’s latest Safety Sense active driver safety systems. 

Comfort models feature air-conditioning, power-adjustable heated door mirrors, a seven-inch touchscreen and 3.5-inch display in the gauge cluster for EV-specific information. A rear-view camera will also be available as an optional extra. Comfort Plus adds body-coloured bumpers and door handles, front and rear parking sensors, blind-spot monitoring and 16-inch wheels. 

The Toyota Proace Electric van will go on sale later this year, as will the already announced Proace City Electric compact van. Toyota has also announced the Proace Verso Electric nine-seat people carrier, which is a sister model to the Vauxhall Vivaro-e Life, Peugeot e-Traveller and Citroen e-SpaceTourer. However, unlike them, the Toyota version will not be coming to the UK market. See our pick of the best electric vans here.