Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles will debut the all-new all-electric eCrafter at the 2018 CV Show.

The zero-emission vehicle begins real-world testing with UK customers at the start of May.

By allowing the vehicle to undergo tests with selected fleet operators, the company will be able to incorporate findings and learnings into the final design and production version of the zero-emission van.

Four UK customers are taking part in the tests: Gatwick Airport, Heathrow Airport, City of London Corporation and the London Borough of Southwark.

The eCrafter was designed in collaboration with customers – in particular those whose vehicles cover between 40 and 60 miles per day, sometimes involving many starts and stops.

It has a 134hp power output and a range of 100 miles. Top speed is limited to 55mph.

The eCrafter’s lithium-ion battery is completely integrated into the underbody, meaning the standard vehicle’s entire cargo volume (10.7 m3) is fully usable. A maximum payload of between 1.0 and 1.75 tonnes is available.

The eCrafter will be available in September 2018.

The CV Show takes place between 24 - 26 April at the NEC, Birmingham.