Vauxhall’s Vivaro-e is a medium-sized van with a range of more than 200 miles on a charge. Available in a range of sizes and with two battery options on offer, the Vivaro-e LCV looks to offer all the usual flexibility of a conventionally-powered Vivaro, though with electric power only.
Part of the PSA Group, Vauxhall’s Vivaro-e shares a powertrain with the Citroen e-Dispatch and Peugeot e-Expert.
Official WLTP Range
Vauxhall Vivaro-e 75 kWh205 miles
Vauxhall Vivaro-e 50 kWh143 miles
Real-world Range
Vauxhall Vivaro-e 75 kWh185 miles
Vauxhall Vivaro-e 50 kWh129 miles
How to charge a Vauxhall Vivaro-e
The Vauxhall Vivaro-e uses the CCS charging standard, which consists of a combined AC and DC inlet port. The top portion of the inlet is for the Type 2 connector, which is used when charging at home, work, or at public slow and fast AC points. The lower section beneath the Type 2 inlet is used to carry high power during rapid DC charging from a CCS connector. The Vauxhall Vivaro-e’s CCS inlet is found on the near-side front 3/4 panel near the front wheel.
Vauxhall’s Vivaro-e is able to be slow, fast, and rapid charged from public points, depending on network and type of charge unit. In most cases, slow charging requires a 3-pin-to-Type 2 cable, and fast charging a Type 2-to-Type 2 cable – both of which are usually supplied with the vehicle. For rapid charging, the CCS connector required is tethered to the charging unit.
| Type 2 – Slow & Fast | CCS – Rapid |
|---|---|
 |  |
Charging on AC or DC requires the EV driver to plug the connectors into the correct inlet, after which the car then ‘talks’ to the charging unit to make sure there is a power supply, that there are no faults, and that it is safe to start charging. If charging at private home or workplace charge points, the vehicle then automatically starts charging.
On a public charger, an activation process is required to initiate charging. Depending on the network provider, this may require the use of an RFID card or smartphone app, often linked to an account which has been set up beforehand. Contactless pay-as-you-go units are relatively commonplace on newer charge points. Once activated, the units will conduct further connection and account checks before starting to charge the vehicle.
How long does it take to charge a Vauxhall Vivaro-e
The following table shows approximately how long it will take to charge a Vauxhall Vivaro-e 75 kWh fitted with optional 11 kW on-board charger. Times are for a 100% charge for all but rapid charging, which is quoted at the usual 0-80%, as most rapid chargers reduce power before 100% charge to protect the battery and maximise efficiency.
Note that the times shown are only a guide, as very rarely will an EV need to be fully charged from 0%. Other factors that might vary the charging time include ambient temperature, in-vehicle energy loads, any upper and lower charge restrictions to extend battery life and protect against potential damage, and charging rates slowing down as the maximum charge is reached.
| Rapid 100kW | Rapid 50kW | Fast 22kW | Fast 7kW | Slow 3kW |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 35 mins 0-80% | 1 hour 10 mins 0-80% | 7 hours 0-100% | 11 hours 0-100% | 25 hours 0-100% |
The Vauxhall Vivaro-e is fitted with a standard 7.4 kW on-board charger for Type 2 AC charging, with an optional 11 kW on-board charger available, in addition to rapid 100 kW DC capability. This means that even when connected to a fast charger with a rated output above 7.4 kW or 11 kW respectively, the Vauxhall Vivaro-e will only be able to charge at up to 7.4 kW or 11 kW.
Use Zap-Map’s Home Charging Calculator to estimate charging times for a Vauxhall Vivaro-e. The level of battery charge, connector speed, and on-board charger options can be tailored to your requirements for more accurate results.
How much does it cost to charge a Vauxhall Vivaro-e?
The table below shows estimates of the cost to charge the Vauxhall Vivaro-e’s 75 kWh battery at work (on a commercial tariff) or using a rapid charge point. Cost estimates are dependent on the charge remaining, usable battery capacity, and age of battery pack. Cost per mile is calculated using an estimate of real-world range.
| Type | Cost/kWh | Cost to charge | Cost per mile | Work | 16 p/kWh | £12.00 | 6.5 p/mile | Public Rapid | 30 p/kWh to 80% charge | £18.00 | 9.7 p/mile |
|---|
Based on these figures, the Vauxhall Vivaro-e’s fuel costs are 6-10 p/mile based on real-world energy usage, the cost depending on the type of charging. In general, workplace charging provides the cheapest per mile cost, and public rapid charging tends to be around double the cost.
To find the cost and times to charge an EV on a public charge point, Zap-Map’s Public Charging Calculator calculates charging costs for any new or used plug-in vehicle. The results can be personalised for different electricity costs and the level of charge required.
Charging a Vauxhall Vivaro-e at work
Charging at work is often the most convenient and cost effective way to recharge an electric van. Government grants are available for the installation of workplace EV charge points, and a large number of companies offer a fully installed charge point for a fixed price.
Most workplace chargers are either rated at 7 kW or 22 kW. The higher powered units typically cost more than the slower 7 kW option, but potentially cut the time required to fully charge an EV by up to a third – model depending.
Charging a Vauxhall Vivaro-e on public networks
The UK has a large number of public EV charging networks, with some offering national coverage and others only found in a specific region. The major UK-wide networks include BP Chargemaster (Polar), Ecotricity, Pod Point, and Charge Your Car.
Payment and access methods across networks vary, with some networks providing an RFID card and others a smartphone app to use their services. While most require an account to be set up before use, some rapid units with contactless PAYG card readers are starting to be installed.
Although many EV charge points are free to use, the majority of fast and rapid chargers require payment. Charging tariffs tend to comprise a flat connection fee, a cost per charging time (pence per hour) and/or a cost per energy consumed (pence per kWh). For more information about network tariffs, visit Zap-Map’s public charge point networks guides.
