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What an important question raised in this article.
EVs will become more part of our lives over the next few years I am puzzled why we do not have more commercial vehicle type EVs. Delivery vans/utes, 4WD utes, EV camper vans all seem to be good choices for EVs, but they do not appear to be mainstream EVs yet.
Hopefully, like all new technologies once we reach critical mass there will be a swift blossoming of a wide variety of functional EV types.
Wonder if it's worthwhile for someone to convert their current Kangoo to an EV. Then they can keep their modifications as-is, and might only require some space in the cargo compartment for the battery. Might end up cheaper than buying a new EV and spending thousands modifying it to accommodate the wheelchair.
A good conversion often costs more than an EV, as it's often cheapest to harvest the parts from an EV, but sometimes that can be a written off vehicle to reduce cost.
Exceptions are usually volume conversions where the same conversion process can be applied to multiple vehicles or there is a conversion kit available.
I'm inclined to think accessibility modification would normally be cheaper than EV conversion, but if the design of the EV makes the modification impractical it rules that option out.
Do not know much about this but I have seen trucks and some lighter vehicles with a fold up tailgate type of lift that could be considered.
If you could get one built to swivel out from rear to 90 degrees and then lower to ground level or up to vehicle rear floor height. Then when loaded or unloaded it would return to floor height and turn 90 degrees to tailgate position. Electric plug in electric motors operate the two maneuvers. To keep it light weight / affordable it would have two narrow wheel ramps possibly braced rather than a wider ramp.
Obviously requires the right engineer and preferably a company who fits existing devices and wants to support EV usage.
A quick search finds the Kenguru which is a dedicated vehicle for wheelchair users. Not a solution for everyone - it is intended to be driven by a person in a wheelchair, is driven using handlebars and I would guess only suitable for short distances. Made in the USA, not available in Australia. Then there is a Nissan van, which appears to be a reengineered Nissan Leaf by Brotherhood Automobility, was available in the UK in 2015. Not in Australia. Floor lowering conversions may be tricky with EVs that have their battery packs in the bottom of the car. Maybe some targeted grants for Australian manufacturers to innovate and do conversions like that?
ford e-TRANSIT
1) Rivian van has a low rear access for easy in out of Amazon delivery drivers.
2) Also, an EV has an ENORMOUS energy source, why aren't you looking at a powered lift?
Don't approach the EV problem like an OEM!
Perhaps a conversion of a Nissan e-nv200 is possible? Prices are quite reasonable but just the Leaf the battery doesn’t have active thermal management.
https://www.carsales.com.au/cars/nissan/e-nv200/
There is an electric version of the Kangoo. Not sure if it can be converted. There are also other electric vans available in Australia from Peugeot, Ford, LDV and Mercedes that may fit the bill. This article has a rundown of them: https://www.whichcar.com.au/news/electric-vans-you-can-buy-in-australia-today