First test: the Silent revolution of the craftsmen in the krybesporet

Extra Leaf was invited to Hamburg by Volkswagen.

(Extra Magazine, the Craftsman): Portvagten not move out of place.

He is deeply focused on his smartphone and do not varebilen, which accelerates against him. With a slightly lighter touch on the accelerator twiddle we the last piece up against the gate, but it is only since the 2.5-ton håndværkervogn makes his debut in the hærdebrede vagts field of vision, that comes to life in him.

Surprised, he laughs at us, throws out her arms and opens the gate.

the Car, which portvagten allow themselves to overrumple of, is a 2.6 meters high and six meters long, the Volkswagen e-Crafter. However, he is lawfully excused, for the car not saying a sound.

The grumbling diesel engine, you would usually find under the hood on the varebilen, is replaced with an electric motor, there is a maximum of emitting a light sum, when it is put on the work.

It originally comes from the electric car e-Golf, but is now transformed into a godstrækker of 136 hp in the manufacturer's first electric van, developed in parallel with the traditional model.

That means in other words that the heavy battery pack is thought to be in the Crafters design from the beginning – so it draws the least possible down in the car's usability. It is obvious during the first test run of the e-Crafter in Hamburg, Volkswagen has tried to make an electric van, which is so closely related with its diesel-powered brethren as possible.

It is already clear, as we start the engine. This process is going on quite as usual, with a traditional key that must be pushed into the ignition and twisted around.

But here is no coughing starter motor to emit a heartbeat, so instead you will have to keep an eye on the dashboard lights up.

Here you also find the biggest innovation compared to the traditional Crafter: a tachometer also shows how much power that is regenerated along the way. Otherwise similar to the surroundings themselves with copious amounts of hardy, grey plastic and a infotainmentskærm from the Golf model.

the Cabin is a little dull but functional site, but then you can instead rejoice in the fact that Volkswagen has packed the e-Crafter with safety equipment as multikollisionsbremse, sidevindsassistent and cameras in both the front and rear of the car.

despite the heavy battery in the bottom of the car has the e-Crafter retains a relatively high payload of 975 pounds. A diesel Crafter with medium wheelbase and high roof performing for comparison, a maximum payload of between 571 and 1240 pounds depending on the model.
the Engine of the VW e-Crafter is derived from elbilene-Golf. It produces 136 hp and 290 Nm, and it is enough to do the heavy van extremely fast by lyskrdset. Photo credit: Volkswagen
Limited to 90 km/h. the
the Car glides silently from the traffic lights at the Fischmarkt in Hamburg city centre. Ago Tesla took the electric car market by storm, has biltypens accelerationsevne been a favorite topic of conversation, when the conversation fell on the new cars. And something suggests that varebilsfolket now.

The e-Crafter shoots quickly and effortlessly up to speed, without the motorbrøl and shocks that would frequently be the result of a traditional van.

Even in the shadow of the peak is at the same time very quiet in the cabin, where you can also get rid of dieselmotorens constant vibration. It gives a relaxed driving experience, which is complemented by the car's automatic engine brake, which sets in when the driver moves foot from the accelerator.

In some electric cars is the brake is so powerful that you can drive almost entirely on the accelerator. Here is the VW e-Crafter is not quite there yet, but with a little getting used to, you can save the old brake pedal a part. In turn, if one misses the fast a the opportunity to screw up and down for motorbremsens intensity.

After having loaded 400 kilos of the load area, the tour goes over the Elbe and the container on the bridge Köhlbradbrücke. It goes steeply upwards, and the many trucks on the bridge are struggling to pull their container load service.

In the electric e-Crafter brands however, we do not increase much. Although the car feels heavy in the rear, then accelerate it anyway in his usual effortless style, when we press the nail into the bottom of the steepest.

the Feel of powerful products, however, do not know. Highway 7 waiting on the other side of the bridge, and here comes the e-Crafter is quickly in difficulties.

In a well-intentioned attempt to target varebilen for city driving has Volkswagen chosen to limit the maximum speed to 90 km/h. Here stops the e-Crafter is simply to accelerate, and it banishes course, the car to the motorway the right track. And thus back behind the trucks from the bridge. the
The small electric motor do not mind to pull 400 kilos of the load area. Volkswagen has managed to keep the nyttevægten at 975 pounds in the 3.5 tons-version. Photo: Mathias Grams
the Price is ready
another thing that does not last, is the battery range. The car is determined to be able to run 173 miles on a charge after the now outdated NEDC-norm, but the real figure is much lower.

Volkswagen has the latest years of time tested e-Crafter at 25 large companies, and here is the average range, according to the manufacturer completing the 100 miles by everyday use and under the toughest conditions', which VW says in a press release.

VW defends the scope, you have focused on a 'praksisrelevant reach'. The point is that you could have set the scope up with a bigger battery, but then it would go out over both the payload as price.

however, It also means that you have to have good control of his route, when driving around a city like Hamburg. VW e-Crafter caters particularly to businesses, which have a fixed base or can predict, where the car must stay overnight next time.

Volkswagen promises that the battery can let the 80 percent up to 45 minutes in a CCS charger, while in the wall charger takes a little over five hours.

Denmark is one of the countries that have been selected to receive the VW e-Crafter first, and the Danish Volkswagen-importer expects to sell the new van for a net price of 475.000 dkk excl. vat.

It is well above the starting price of a medium Crafter 35 with high roof and 140 hp, which is located on the 324.500 crowns but there must also be given a great deal of the enhancements included in the e-Crafter.

With the arrival of the new electric van will be it is therefore necessary for customers to consider a few new issues: Valuing the green profile higher than the price difference, how far is running the real about the day, and not the least; how important is it to be able to give it gas on the highway?

It is expected that the first copies of the e-Crafter is in Denmark in week 45 or 46.

the VW e-Crafter

475.000 dkk excl. vat

100 kW (136 hp)

173 km (NEDC)