Mercedes-Benz Vans Australia is preparing to offer all of its commercial van model lines with electric drive, and will also add the EQV – the company’s first fully-electric premium people mover – to the lineup.
These developments are planned to start in the second half of 2022 with the introduction of the mid-size eVito panel van, eVito Tourer and the EQV seven-seat people mover.
The eSprinter is intended to follow sometime in 2024 when the next generation version becomes available.
Mercedes-Benz Vans (MBV) said in a statement that thanks to the flexibility of its global vans production strategy, the company intends to offer both conventional and battery-electric vans side-by-side for the foreseeable future, and is preparing to switch to electric-only when customer and market demands are deemed sufficient.
In Australia, the company said, sales of electric vehicles are on the rise and the electrification of vans is increasingly becoming an attractive proposition for light commercial fleet operators who are looking to show commitment to sustainable practices and reduced total cost of ownership.
MBV Managing Director, Diane Tarr, said this is a very exciting step towards a more sustainable future for the company and its customers in Australia.
“We are confident that the electric drive will gain more prevalence here over the coming years,” said Tarr.
“As it does, we will be ready with a strong customer-centric electric product portfolio, offering the potential to assist customers with lowering their operating costs and reducing their environmental impact.”
The company said full local specifications and pricing of the various electric models will be communicated closer to launch.
However, it provided key technical data for the European-spec eVito Tourer and the upmarket EQV people movers, upon which the Australian versions will be based.
Via a 90kWh (usable capacity) lithium-ion battery, both versions have an identical electric motor that delivers 150kW (204hp) and 362Nm of peak torque delivered to the front wheels.
It’s claimed to be capable of propelling the vehicles to a top speed of 160km/h and providing a driving range of around 355km for the EQV and 360km for the eVito Tourer, as determined by the Worldwide Harmonised Light Vehicles Test Procedure (WLTP).
Using an 11kW AC charger, charging time from zero to 100 per cent is said to be 10 hours.
The EQV has a gross vehicle mass (GVM) rating of 3,500kg, wheelbase of 3,200mm, length of 5,140mm and a luggage compartment of up to 1,030 litres, depending on equipment fitted.