Picking up a new van at the end of the year to do some extra work on the side, and also to use when I go on roadtrips/camping as I'm giving up the 4x4 (don't drive on any difficult tracks though, mainly just poor dirt roads to the campsites).
I've test driven both and enjoy both of them in their own way. But it's kind of like comparing apples and oranges with a diesel pot vs an EV.
Would love an EV just for the fact of never having to pay for fuel again and using solar during the day to recharge. The range however isn't super great as expected, which means extra planning for charging stops when going on roadtrips (say every 250kms). I can usually do 500km driving in one stint quite comfortably without needing a rest stop so I do wonder if this will eventually get annoying if I have to stop every so often to recharge. Not sure what depreciation will be like with an EV once more people start to adopt them and we see more models introduced. Being an LDV I can't imagine it holding it's value either, as opposed to say the Ford Transit Custom EV for example.
I quite like the new Hiace and like the cabin better. Would also be getting a manual transmission too. I'm also fond of my diesel engines but would like to have that feeling of never having to step into a petrol station again or be at the mercy of rising fuel prices. Of course the diesel pot offers much better range so good for long roadtrips, but it also means the ongoing added and higher cost of fuel.
Seeing as both vans are around 60K driveway, if I get the diesel then I have to cop ongoing fuel costs vs cheaper electricity rates/solar to charge the vehicle. The Hiace has good resale value, but will that matter in say 20 years time when ICE vehicles are a dying breed?
Would love to hear your thoughts, especially if you've driven both for work and play.
I doubt that option will be around much longer. Not very popular