The VW eCaddy has been quietly undergoing trials with users in Germany and Holland
Volkswagen eCaddy fleet trials
Volkswagen has been running a small fleet of eCaddy models with customers since 2011, with the aim of proving the concept for modern electric vans and getting valuable feedback from real-world use.
As the name suggests, the eCaddy is an electric version of the familiar Caddy van. It looks just like a normal Caddy but it has a slightly raised load-area floor to accommodate the batteries, which occupy the space normally reserved for the tank on the natural gas powered versions sold in some markets. Practicality and space are only marginally affected.
The load area is only marginally affected by the batteries in the eCaddy
Initially, there were 11 eCaddys on test, but this number has risen to about 40, which are being run in Germany and the Netherlands by customers such as the German postal service.
Volkswagen says the feedback has been positive, and companies are especially interested in electric vans for the Zero Emissions Zones that are being introduced in increasing numbers of European cities.
A quick drive in the eCaddy reveals a well-developed vehicle that feels like it could be offered for sale tomorrow – power delivery is quiet and smooth, and acceleration should be well up to the job of keeping up with busy urban traffic.
The main limitation of the current eCaddy is that it is based on the same platform as the last-generation Golf, which is nearing the end of its life and doesn’t offer the same flexibility for accommodating different drivetrains as the MQB architecture used by the current Golf.
Looking ahead, VW has been developing a dedicated electric van in the shape of the e-Co-Motion
e-Co-Motion concept
But it would be very surprising if VW forgot the positive eCaddy experience altogether. The company has been teasing the world with a new e-van concept, the e-Co-Motion. which has a slightly smaller footprint than the eCaddy but manages to squeeze in a bit more load space, as well as lots of in-built intelligence designed to make life easier.
If, one day, there’s an electric van in your future, it could look a lot like that.
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