Hyundai’s Staria has always looked a little like something designed to transport astronauts between terminals at a space station. So it seems only appropriate that the Korean carmaker has finally given its futuristic-looking van an electric powertrain.

The new Staria Load Electric joins the diesel and hybrid versions in Hyundai’s commercial vehicle line-up, bringing with it a sizeable battery, impressive charging capabilities and the promise of significantly lower running costs that come with an electric vehicle.

But there’s a catch. Starting at $70,990 before on-road costs, the electric Staria costs $21,000 more than its diesel counterpart and $17,500 more than the standard hybrid.

It’s a significant premium for a vehicle designed primarily to earn its keep, and after spending the best part of a week driving it around Sydney, it’s also one of the biggest questions I came away with.

The Staria Load Electric comes with an 84 kWh battery powering a front-mounted electric motor producing 160 kW and 350 Nm of torque.

Hyundai claims a driving range of up to 450 kilometres on the WLTP cycle, which is pretty respectable for a vehicle measuring more than 5.2 metres long and weighing upwards of 2.2 tonnes.

Of course, load it up with a tonne of equipment and spend the day travelling at motorway speeds, and that figure is likely to fall.

But for urban deliveries, tradespeople and businesses travelling relatively predictable routes, the claimed range should provide plenty of flexibility.

One of the more impressive aspects of the electric Staria is its 800-volt electrical architecture, enabling quick DC charging.

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