Mercedes-Benz: Milestone in Electrification with the 25,000th E-Van

The van manufacturer Mercedes-Benz Vans has exceeded the mark of 25,000 produced all-electric vans, considering it a milestone. The top seller among the electric vans is the eVito, followed by the eSprinter and the large limousine version of the Vito EQV, according to the company. They reference their years of experience, which began early with the small series of the Vito E-Cell in 2010, but then stalled due to a lack of efficient batteries. Today's electric portfolio includes vehicles from both the midsize segment (EQV, eVito, and eVito Tourer) and the large van segment (eSprinter) and will be expanded in 2022 to include all-electric small vans (eCitan, EQT).

The eVito was first presented in 2017, followed by the eSprinter in 2019 and the EQV in 2020. The production of the next generation eSprinter is scheduled to begin in the second half of 2023 in Charleston (South Carolina, USA) and subsequently in Düsseldorf and Ludwigsfelde. The manufacturer has invested around 350 million euros in the next generation eSprinter. Approximately 150 million euros of this will be invested in the production adjustments at the three plants. From 2022 onwards, production at all Mercedes-Benz Vans' own plants will be CO2-neutral.

Flexible Production on a Single Line

Additionally, they aim to realize production on a single line along with the combustion engine counterparts to flexibly meet demand. By the end of the decade, the brand aims to be fully electric, with the caveat, "wherever market conditions allow". Specifically, from the middle of the decade, all newly developed vans will be exclusively electric, based on the completely new, modular and purely electric vehicle architecture VAN.EA. Until then, the manufacturer will pursue a multi-drive strategy, for both large vans and the upcoming Citan/T-Class model, which will be realized based on the Renault Kangoo E-Tech.

After successful winter trials focusing on driving performance, pre-conditioning functions, and climate comfort, further trials with the all-electric van are scheduled in Southern Europe in the coming months. These will secure, among other things, pre-climatization during charging and driving under full load in the heat. The EQT rounds off the portfolio this year with a 5-seater, with a 7-seater to follow next year.

Intermediate Step for the eSprinter

The requirements for the next eSprinter generation were defined in cooperation with customers, such as those from the CEP sector (courier, express, and parcel service) as well as body manufacturers. Conventional vehicle winter tests were also completed. At the test site in Arjeplog, Sweden, the manufacturer analyzed the effects of extreme cold on handling, ergonomics, thermal management, and interior comfort. In cold chambers, the vehicles were additionally cooled down before starting to test the cold protection of drive components, heating systems, software, and interfaces.

The charging behavior and management were also specifically investigated and optimized. Even after just over half of the several-week test period, it became clear that the next generation eSprinter can handle extreme cold, as promised. With three battery and several body variants from the panel van to the chassis, for example, for box bodies, the next generation eSprinter is expected to not only open up new customer segments but also new markets, including the USA and Canada. The range will more than double compared to the current eSprinter, depending on the configuration, they promise.