You see the brochure for a new EV, plastered with impressive range and efficiency numbers, only to find the real-world experience is, shall we say, a little different. It’s a common gripe, and one that has businesses rightfully cautious about electrifying their fleets. But what if a van not only met its official figures but actually smashed them, under real-world, load-lugging, multi-driver conditions?
That’s not a hypothetical; it’s exactly what the new Farizon SV electric van just did. In a grueling five-day trial across the UK, this newcomer from the Geely powerhouse proved that exceptional efficiency isn’t just for pristine lab conditions. It’s for the motorways, the country lanes, and the stop-start city streets where work actually gets done.
A Real-World Torture Test
This wasn’t some gentle hypermiling exercise. This was the GREENFLEET Explorer EV Rally 2025, a nationwide event designed to separate the contenders from the pretenders. Three Farizon SV vans were handed over to a mix of journalists, prospective customers, and fleet managers—arguably the toughest critics you could find. The route was a beast. Starting in Newquay, Cornwall, the rally snaked its way across the UK, covering an average of 1,043 miles (over 1,670 km) per van. The circuit took them through everything a commercial driver faces daily: high-speed motorways, winding rural roads, and congested urban centres, finally finishing in Cheshire.
To make things even more interesting, the vans were far from empty. One was tasked with powering a fridge for the entire event using its 3.3kW vehicle-to-load (V2L) sockets, another was kitted out with a bespoke racking system, and the third was loaded with bulky event equipment. Add in luggage and two or three people per van, and you have a legitimate real-world scenario, complete with challenging terrain and adverse weather.
The Results Are In, and They’re Staggering
So, how did the SV cope? Independent telematics data revealed something remarkable. Two of the three vans didn’t just meet their official Worldwide Harmonised Light Vehicle Test Procedure (WLTP) efficiency ratings; they exceeded them. The star of the show was the largest model, the L3H3 with a 106kWh battery. It achieved an average efficiency of 2.402 miles/kWh, a stunning 9.7% better than its official WLTP figure. The medium-sized L2H2 van (83kWh battery) also beat its numbers, coming in 1.5% over its official rating. The smallest L1H1 variant was hot on their heels, posting efficiency within just 7.25% of its homologated figure, a result many EV drivers would be thrilled with.
Calum James, the General Manager of Farizon UK, couldn’t be prouder. “People are used to taking the official range and efficiency stats with a pinch of salt, so I’m very proud that the data collected demonstrates just how efficient the Farizon SV is in the real-world… The resulting message is clear: the SV will deliver for businesses, day after day.”
The Secret Sauce: How Geely Built the World’s Most Efficient Van
This level of performance doesn’t happen by accident. The Farizon SV was designed from a clean sheet of paper with a single goal: to be the most efficient 3.5-tonne van on the planet. Farizon, a subsidiary of Geely Holding Group—the same automotive giant that owns Volvo, Polestar, and Lotus, leveraged its immense R&D power to achieve this. The strategy was multi-pronged:
- Aggressive Lightweighting: Every component was scrutinised to save weight. Advanced materials for the body and chassis, innovative by-wire controls, and even low-mass wheels contribute. The battery uses an advanced cell-to-pack design, which eliminates unnecessary modules and weight. The result? The SV is a claimed 38.5kg lighter than its nearest rival, making it the lightest van in its class.
- Slippery Aerodynamics: The SV’s body was optimised in the wind tunnel, achieving a drag coefficient of just Cd 0.29. For context, that’s better than many passenger cars and is exceptional for a large van, allowing it to slice through the air with minimal effort.
- A Hyper-Efficient Drivetrain: The electric motor delivers up to 94.2% efficiency, meaning very little energy is wasted as heat. The battery is also managed by a liquid cooling and heating system, keeping it at its ideal operating temperature for maximum performance and longevity, regardless of the weather.
This all translates to a van with a WLTP combined range of up to 247 miles (397 km) and a city range of up to 342 miles (550 km), depending on the model. And with 170 kW (231 PS) of power, it’s responsive even when fully laden.
For businesses looking to transition to electric, these results are more than just interesting numbers; they represent confidence. Confidence that the van you buy will do the job you need it to do, day in and day out, without nasty surprises. The Farizon SV has thrown down the gauntlet, proving that with smart design and world-class engineering, the era of compromise-free electric commercial vehicles is finally here. Now, the only question is, when will we see them on Kiwi roads?
