Mercedes-Benz Vans readies e-vans for Australia

MERCEDES-BENZ Vans Australia will bolster all its commercial-van model lines with electric drive derivatives, beginning with the eVito Panel Van, eVito Tourer and EQV people mover, from the second half of 2022. The larger eSprinter would arrive “in or around 2024”.

The German brand’s battery-electric van range will be sold alongside conventionally powered variants. However, Mercedes-Benz Vans Australia would only offer a fully electric line-up “when customer and market demand determined it”, the company said.

Given the increased interest in electric-powered LCVs in Australia, the German marque hopes the four-model e-van range will appeal to commercial fleet owners who are looking to show commitment to sustainable practices while reducing their total cost of ownership.

“This is a very exciting step towards a more sustainable future for Mercedes-Benz Vans and our customers in Australia,” Mercedes-Benz Vans managing director Diane Tarr said.

“We are confident the electric drive will gain prevalence here over the coming years. As it does, we’ll be ready with a strong, customer-centric electric product portfolio,” she added.

While Mercedes-Benz Vans Australia has yet to confirm the pricing and specifications of its upcoming e-van range, the current European line-up is claimed to have usable driving ranges of more than 350km (in the cases of the EQV and eVito Tourer).

The Mercedes-Benz EQV is powered by a 100-kWh lithium-ion battery pack that can be recharged in as little as 45 minutes when connected to a 110-kW DC fast charger. The standard 11-kW AC charger will fully recharge the EQV in under 10 hours, Mercedes says. 

The front-wheel drive EQV measures 5140mm in length, rides on a 3200-mm wheelbase and has a cargo capacity of 1030 litres. It is powered by a single electric motor producing 150kW and 362Nm, offers a WLTP driving range of 355km and has a top speed of 160km/h.

The eVito Tourer shares the specifications of its people-mover sibling, but is claimed to be capable of travelling 10km further on the WLTP cycle (360km).

Although Mercedes-Benz Vans Australia said technical data of its eVito Panel Van and next-generation eSprinter was not yet available, a quick look at the European website suggests the latter can haul up to 3500kg with a maximum load volume of 10.5 cubic metres. 

The European eSprinter is powered by a 55-kWh battery pack and has a range “of around 150km”, while the lower-capacity 44-kWh battery is said to offer a driving range of just 115km. The eSprinter’s peak outputs are rated at up to 85kW and 300Nm.

Mercedes-Benz Vans is also working on a fuel cell version of the Sprinter van, the Concept Sprinter F-CELL “suitable for longer courier routes” or intra-city travel. Outputting 147kW and 350Nm, the hydrogen-powered model has an optimal driving range of up to 300km; its fuel is stored in three cigar-shaped tanks located beneath the vehicle’s load-area floor.

In Europe, the eVito Panel van offers 85kW and 295Nm from its single electric motor, while power is sourced from a 35-kWh battery pack that can be recharged in “around six hours”. 

It has a load capacity of up to 6.6 cubic metres and its range is quoted at 150km (WLTP).