Mercedes-Benz drives its new electric vans to the future
Mercedes-Benz has unveiled its Sustaineer concept van, which followed the previously introduced Vision Van and Vision Urbanetic. The Sustaineer concept van from Mercedes-Benz Vans Department is nothing more than the production e-Sprinter electric van that shows us what we can expect in the future. Sustaineer means ‘Sustainability Pioneer’. This concept will be the basis for the future generations of e-Sprinter, e-Vito, EQV, e-Sitan and EQT. The manufacturer says that all the innovative solutions were created for the van ‘taking into account the possibility of mass production’.
All future Mercedes-Benz vans will be electric. The entire fleet is expected to be carbon neutral by 2039. Moreover, it is stated that by the end of 2022, the entire production of vans will be switched exclusively to clean energy from renewable sources. In addition, Mercedes-Benz Vans promises to implement a ‘green repair concept’ for high-voltage batteries, significantly extending battery life. Starting from the ‘middle of the decade’ all new vans will be exclusively electric.
Mercedes-Benz is currently actively developing van sharing in Germany. If a certain company has a van, and you need it, you can use a mobile application to rent it. The procedure is simple: you arrive, unlock the doors directly from your phone (the ignition key is in the glove compartment), bring it back once you no longer need it and get a bill for rent and fuel. Another smartphone system, but already associated with passenger transportation, is being tested in one of the cities of Italy. If you need to travel from point A to point B, you just need to find the route of the desired minibus on your mobile phone, choose the nearest car, book a seat, pay for a ticket, and the bus will pick you up at the right point.
Vision Van
Mercedes-Benz just loves long discussions about the future! And the manufacturer wants to be ahead of the time and anticipate what we can only dream/think about today. So in 2016, in response to the rising needs for better convenience and delivery speed, Mercedes presented its Vision Van concept without pedals and steering wheel, with a fully automated cargo compartment, delivery drones on the roof and ‘moon rovers’ for delivering goods. Just imagine that one day you arrive to a client, and the van tells you via phone: ‘Don’t ring the doorbell, the child is asleep. Open the side door and take the goods from the top shelf’. And you notice that the LED sector is blinking under the required box.
Vision Urbanetic
Two years later, the vector changed to autonomous control, and the manufacturer introduced the Vision Urbanetic unmanned shuttle, which looked like a large egg on wheels. The automatic control system includes radars and ultrasonic sensors at the front and at the rear, and there are long-distance lidars on the rooftop. So when an obstacle is detected, the shuttle will be able to make an independent decision: to go around or stop. It is assumed that the shuttle taxi can be ordered via a smartphone application. The vehicle is ten-seater. Mercedes-Benz plans to create an entire transportation system where shuttles can communicate with each other, and their actions will be automatically coordinated from the command post. The model can also transport cargo: it is enough to change the passenger body to a box van with a volume of ten cubic meters, and if the vehicle is to be used to deliver parcels, it will be equipped with a special device that will deliver goods through a side window. According to forecasts, the Vision Urbanetic drone will be brought to mind no earlier than 2030.
Sustaineer
The new Mercedes-Benz Sustaineer concept van has been created as a response to the trendy sustainability and green energy requirements. Bright coloring, innovative batteries made of natural materials, extracted only from certified mines. And they are complemented by a huge solar panel, which can increase the driving range by hundred additional kilometers under favorable weather conditions. The front grille and the bottom hide the filters that trap small particles, turning the van into a kind of vacuum cleaner for the roads. Instead of rear-view mirrors, there are cameras that transmit the image to screens on pillars. A sliding side door has been replaced by bus-type doors. This solution can already be ordered for the production Mercedes-Benz Sprinter models.
Production minivans
Mercedes-Benz e-Vito Tourer
This production van has received a new version. In 2019, the manufacturer introduced the electric Mercedes e-Vito Tourer with modest parameters (an 85 kW motor, 116 hp, 295 Nm, a battery with a 35 kWh useful portion, a driving range of up to 186 km). In 2020, this version was replaced with a more efficient one (150 kW, 204 hp, 366 Nm, 90 kWh, up to 370 km according to the WLTP cycle). Mercedes-Benz has also added the basic modification with a 60 kWh battery (useful portion). The driving range is 217-239 km, depending on options. This version of e-Vito will appeal to those who pay attention to the starting price, and those who use the electric car on short, easily predictable routes.
Mercedes-Benz EQV
The luxury Mercedes-Benz EQV has also expanded the number of versions. Apart from the EQV 300 with a motor and battery similar to the top-end eVito, there is now the EQV 250 with a 60 kWh battery and a range of 213-236 km. The standard equipment of this modification includes an 80 kW on-board charger, while it is an option for the eVito.
Mercedes-Benz e-Sprinter
The future e-Sprinter will be built on a completely new Electric Versatility Platform, an investment into which will amount to 350 million euros. It promises more efficiency, a wider range of versions and equipment options, as well as lower production costs. The manufacturer promise to provide customers with a choice of two wheelbase options and three types of traction batteries, differing from each other in capacity.
