If the DFSK EC35 gives you a sense of deja-vu, then don’t be alarmed. This ‘new’ van is an electric version of the manufacturer’s C-Series range that was previously offered in the UK by Bassadone Automotive.

Things have changed, a bit, and the Chinese model is now imported by Innovation Automotive.

The EC35, like its petrol-powered predecessor still looks suspiciously like a last-generation Ford Transit Facelift from the front. But, it comes at a compelling price point.

After the Government’s plug-in van grant is applied, the EC35 can be had for just £20,990 (CV OTR). It is, therefore, significantly cheaper than all its rivals. The Vauxhall Combo-e, for example, starts at £31,496 (CV OTR inc grant).

When it comes to cargo capacity, the EC35 trumps the Combo-e and other compact electric vans with a vast load area of 4.8 cubic metres and a maximum payload of 1,015Kg.

All of this comes despite the fact the EC35 is relatively compact. It has a length of 4.5 metres and a height of almost 2.0 metres, but a width of just 1.47 metres. It makes the EC35 rather unique and well-suited to narrow roads.

The short overhang and large door mirrors provide ample visibility. Parking sensors are part of the standard spec, too, so manoeuvrability is fairly straightforward.

With such a large load area, the cabin is a little claustrophobic. There’s not much seat adjustment and the steering wheel juts in a fixed position. Don’t expect to get too comfortable, then. The rest of the interior is befitting of the van’s low price tag, with flimsy plastics and a dated dashboard. The vans legacy controls have been crudely integrated with the new electric powertrain. 

Accessing the load space can be done via a pair of sliding side doors or the rear tailgate. The latter opens vertically, which suits narrow environments, but means you need a sizable space behind the van to swing it open. The tailgate itself provides a handy canopy to shield drivers from the rain when loading or unloading, but doesn’t lift high enough for anyone taller than 6ft to fit under.

The EC35 uses a 39kWh battery which can be recharged in an hour, at speeds of up to 40kW. The standard model has a 62mph maximum speed and a 101-mile WLTP driving range. Go for one with a 50mph limiter, however, and the WLTP driving range increases to 166 miles.

One of our biggest gripes with the EC35 is that it doesn’t provide a remaining range readout. Instead, drivers will have to rely on the remaining battery charge display, which give a percentage figure.

The driving experience is unlike any modern van and feels very much like a commercial vehicle of old. There’s a lot of lean in the corners, the steering and brakes feel vague and at higher speeds there’s a noticeable lack of refinement. In urban environments, however, these factors are not really an issue and we’d expect the majority of EC35s to be used in cities or small towns, where they rarely venture above 30mph.

The rear-mounted electric motor serves up 80PS, which means performance is modest. It takes a while to reach the 62mph speed limiter, but is adequately responsive at lower speeds. Fully laden, the EC35 is likely to struggle on steeper hills, our test van was carrying a 250Kg load and needed some encouragement to maintain its speed on inclines.

With no dealers in the UK, Innovation Automotive has appointed Halford Autocentres as its official provider of aftersales services and Euro Car Parts will be the official parts stockist. We were assured that servicing, repairs and parts supply would be available with similar lead times to other brands. The EC35 also comes with a five-year/75,000 mile warranty.

It might not be the solution that every fleet manager is crying out for, but for businesses that operate in urban environments that want cheap zero-emission vehicles with a usable load space, the DSFK EC35 does the job.