The first physical vehicles from Mercedes’ future electric van range have been out testing on public roads in prototype form.
Mercedes is planning to switch all of its medium and large vans onto a new electric platform called VAN EA, which stands for Mercedes-Benz Van Electric Architecture. This platform is set to form the basis of the new eVito medium van and eSprinter large van, and will be used for commercial and passenger vehicles alike. It is scalable and modular, meaning that the same underpinnings can be used for a wide range of different sizes and shapes of vehicle.
The plan is to launch the passenger versions first, with the vans following on. This means that the relatively recently updated Mercedes eSprinter and eVito will remain on sale after the first VAN EA passenger vehicles launch.
Mercedes has said little officially about the first VAN.EA prototypes that have been out testing, beyond releasing a set of images of what looks like a medium-sized Vito-type vehicle wearing heavy camouflage.
The testing has seen the vehicle undertake a long-distance trip from Mercedes’ home city of Stuttgart in Germany to North Cape at the northern tip of Norway, a journey of more than 2,000 miles. The test vehicle was created to assess the chassis, electric powertrain, battery and high-voltage components. The next test are then focusing on how all the various elements interact with one another.
The prototypes are heading to Sweden next, to go through cold weather assessments.
What do we know about the first VAN EA vehicles?
Mercedes has confirmed that all versions of the new VAN EA commercial vehicles will come equipped with the latest version of the brand’s operating system as well as high-speed charging as standard. It has also suggested that front-wheel drive and all-wheel drive will both be available.
Mercedes has previously told Parkers that the new vehicles are not simply like-for-like replacements for the Vito and Sprinter – they are purpose-built battery electric vehicles for example, so there is no chance of them being offered with a diesel engine. The brand has also ruled out hydrogen as an option.
With the most recent eSprinter, Mercedes said it had done all it could in terms of maximising efficiency, and has targeted several key areas for improvement that VAN EA could bring about. These include aerodynamics, the efficiency of the drivetrain and the heating system. VAN EA will use heat pumps for example, which are more suitable to an electric vehicle, Mercedes says.
The brand wouldn’t be drawn on what sort of range is possible, but has said that it would be a ‘huge increase’ over the current eSprinter’s 275-mile maximum. It also pointed to huge potential improvements in charging time, which would further spread its usability by reducing the amount of time the van has to spend off the road plugged in.
Bosses think that range is ultimately less of a headline priority for van users, with total cost of ownership a more important factor.
When will the first VAN EA vehicles launch?
The medium-sized passenger vehicle is set to be the first to launch – an all-electric take on the V-Class – but the panel van versions are expected to follow shortly afterwards. This could be less than a year later, meaning the first panel van models might well be on sale as soon as 2027.
The platform is designed to only sit under the medium and large vehicles, though – the small Citan van will continue to be made as part of the brand’s partnership with Renault.
