The
age of electrification is coming, and it’s not just the cars – following the
introduction of the eVito last year, Mercedes-Benz Vans is adding another
electric commercial vehicle in its stable, the eSprinter.
The
latest addition to the Sprinter lineup will be increasingly important to
customers making deliveries in cities that will soon ban internal combustion
engines. To that end, the eSprinter is powered by a front-mounted electric
motor, making 114 PS and 295 Nm
of torque.
With
a 47 kWh battery, the van is capable of a range of up to 168 km, and it can be
charged in around six hours with a 7.2 kW AC charger. Equipped with an optional
80 kW quick-charge facility (20 kW as standard), the eSprinter can be charged
from 10% to 80% in as little as 30 minutes from a fast-charging station.
Initially
available as a panel van, the eSprinter has the same 10.5 cubic metres of
loading volume as the standard model, with a 891 kg capacity. A smaller 35 kWh
battery, with a range of 115 km, ups loading capacity to 1,045 kg. Top speed is
limited to 80 km/h, but can be raised to 100 km/h or 120 km/h if required.
Efficiency
can be increased through the four levels of energy recuperation (selectable via
the steering wheel paddles) and the E+, E and C drive modes, the latter also
adjusting the climate control to optimise range. The eSprinter also receives a
unique version of the Mercedes PRO Connect system, complete with the Digital
eVan Management package.
This
includes remote charging management with climate control pre-conditioning,
along with an intelligent charging management feature that allows fleet users
to stagger charging and thus minimise the power output required from the
building’s electrical system.
Other
tools catering to commercial customers include an eVan Ready app and an eCost
Calculator that lets them see if an electric vehicle is suitable for their area
of use, along with an eCharging Planner that enables them to evaluate a building’s
readiness to charge a fleet of eSprinters – even taking to account electric
vehicles from other brands.
