New Electric Vans Match Diesel Rivals on Safety as Farizon SV Earns Top ANCAP Rating

The latest round of safety testing from ANCAP Safety in December 2025 delivered a clear message for Fleet Managers: the shift to electric vans no longer requires a compromise on safety.

Diesel stalwarts like the Toyota HiAce and Ford Transit both achieved top-tier results — but the real headline was the performance of the new all-electric Farizon SV, a brand-new entrant to the Australian market that secured a PLATINUM safety grading on debut.

For fleets under pressure to reduce CO₂ emissions and decarbonise operations, the result removes one of the last perceived barriers to adopting electric vans.

Electric Newcomer Farizon SV Makes a Confident First Impression

The standout result from the December 2025 testing was the strong performance of the Farizon SV — particularly given it is both a new brand and a battery-electric vehicle entering a competitive segment dominated by long-established diesel models.

The Farizon SV achieved:

• 84% overall collision avoidance score
• PLATINUM safety grading
• Strong performance across most active safety technologies

According to the ANCAP media release, the Farizon delivered high levels of overall performance, though some limitations were identified — specifically the absence of autonomous emergency braking (AEB) when reversing and a speed assistance system. 

That context matters. For a first entry into the Australian market, the result signals that new electric brands are arriving with safety systems that meet fleet expectations from day one.

ANCAP noted that the Farizon’s debut performance reflects the high safety standard expected by Australian fleets and adds to the growing range of safe electric vans now available. 

Diesel Benchmarks Still Strong — But the Gap Is Closing

The December testing also confirmed that traditional diesel vans continue to deliver strong safety outcomes — which is important for fleets still operating mixed powertrains.

Key results included:

The Ford Transit set a new benchmark among large vans with a 93% score, while the updated HiAce improved on its previous rating following upgrades to its driver assistance systems. 

For Fleet Managers, the takeaway is straightforward: safety parity between diesel and electric vans is now largely established.

Why This Matters for Fleet Decarbonisation Plans

For many organisations, safety compliance is a non-negotiable procurement requirement — often sitting alongside whole-of-life cost and operational fit-for-purpose in tender evaluations.

Historically, concerns about safety technology maturity in early EV models slowed adoption. That argument is becoming harder to sustain.

The Farizon SV result demonstrates three practical realities for fleet decision-makers:

1. New electric brands are arriving fleet-ready – Safety performance is no longer limited to established OEMs.

2. EV adoption decisions can focus on operations and cost – With safety standards aligned, the conversation shifts to range, payload, charging infrastructure and utilisation — the issues Fleet Managers are already working through.

3. Compliance risk is reducing – Meeting internal safety policies and Chain of Responsibility obligations is increasingly achievable with electric vehicles.

This aligns with a broader trend the fleet sector has been watching closely — commercial vans are emerging as one of the easiest vehicle categories to electrify because they typically operate predictable routes and return to base each day.

The Next Step: Enter the Farizon V7E

The timing of the ANCAP result is significant because Farizon has recently expanded its local lineup with the launch of the Farizon V7E — a medium electric van positioned as a lower-cost entry point for fleets considering electrification.

That model is attracting attention for a simple reason: it brings electric capability into a price band traditionally dominated by diesel vans.

For fleets running urban delivery, service technicians or trade operations, the V7E and SV combination gives procurement teams a clearer pathway to reduce emissions without fundamentally changing how vehicles are used.

Bottom Line for Fleet Buyers

The December 2025 ANCAP results mark a quiet but important milestone. Electric vans are no longer an experimental option. They are now achieving the same safety outcomes as the diesel models that have dominated Australian fleets for decades.

For Fleet Managers planning their next replacement cycle, the decision is becoming less about whether electric vans are ready — and more about when the organisation is ready to support them.

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