The future is officially electric at Mercedes-Benz Vans, as the firm has announced it will not develop any more new models powered by diesel engines. Instead, all future Mercedes vans will come exclusively with electric drive.
This announcement came as part of the official information surrounding the unveiling of the 2022 Mercedes Citan, which will be the last new Mercedes van to feature diesel power.
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Wait. What? No more diesel Mercedes vans ever?
The statement – which we’ll get to in a moment – was a shock to us as well, but it certainly reflects the way the wider vehicle market and emissions regulations are moving. Despite many long years of services and its continuing ability to deliver long-distance efficiency, diesel is very much on the out.
And no, petrol isn’t an option for future Mercedes either.
What exactly did Mercedes say about the end of diesel vans?
Here’s the exact announcement from the head of Mercedes-Benz Vans, Marcus Breitschwerdt:
‘The Citan is [also] the last new vehicle project for commercial customers at Mercedes-Benz Vans to use a combustion engine. All future new developments will exclusively be available with an electric drive.’
You won’t be surprised to learn that there’s an eCitan electric model coming this time around as well, at which point Mercedes Vans will offer an electric version of all its models – the eVito and the eSprinter are already available.
Is this the end of the line for all diesel Mercedes vans?
Mercedes is not saying it will stop building diesel vans immediately.
Breitschwerdt refers specifically to ‘new vehicle projects’, and we’re guessing the current Sprinter and the Vito likely have a good few years and facelifts left in them yet before their full replacements count as new vehicle projects.
This will likely be a big relief in particular for all the mega-mileage drivers currently pounding the UK and Europe’s motorways in Sprinters. Because until someone comes up with some much faster charging technology than is currently available, and/or battery tech that can cover more than about 200 miles at a time (the best a large electric van of any kind is currently promising), the additional hassle involved in long-distance driving an EV is enormous.
The eSprinter currently sold in the UK has an official driving range of just 96 miles, though a new version is already in development.
Has any other van maker made a similar statement?
Not such a stark one, no – although Ford has committed to selling an electrified version of all of its vans by 2024, and by the end of 2021 you will already be able to buy electric versions of every Citroen, Peugeot and Vauxhall van.
This change really is coming.
You can get ahead of the curve by making the switch to electric vans now, and we rank all of the current models in our best electric van guide.
You can also find a list of all the future electric vans on Parkers, as well as a full guide to all the electric van pros and cons.
Also read:
>> The best electric vans on sale now
>> The Parkers guide to electric vans
>> Mercedes reveals plans for next-generation eSprinter electric van
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