Mercedes Teases the Future of EV Vans
They're everywhere. In fact, they're so ubiquitous, that they're essentially invisible. Delivery and work vans and trucks crisscross our cities, towns, and neighborhoods dropping off goods and being used to perform a multitude of tasks. Yet while they are everywhere, they don't travel all that far.
These vans and trucks are perfect for the transition to an EV powertrain. Short trips with a lot of stops and starts. Mercedes-Benz sees the market changing and recently teased the next evolution of its electric vans. Built upon the company's modular and scalable Van Electric Architecture (VAN.EA), the next generation of vans will hit the roads starting in 2026.
These vans will join electric work vehicles not just from Mercedes, but also Rivian, Ram, Ford, and others. In fact, we had the opportunity to drive some of these vans in the past year.
On sale now, the current Mercedes E-Sprinter is the German automaker's latest foray into the world of a mass-produced sustainable work van. Built on the same platform as the gas-powered Sprinter, the electric van starts at $71,866 and has a combined range of 273 miles on the WLTP cycle. It covers more ground between charges than its closest competitor the Ford E-Transit (starting at $45,995) but with a larger price tag.
The current eSprinter is the automaker's first step towards its upcoming VAN.EA electric-only van platform debuting in 2026. For this vehicle, Mercedes placed an electric powertrain on the current gas-powered Sprinter van. To accommodate the increased weight and packing required by an EV, especially one are large as a delivery van, the automaker did have to adjust the vehicle.
For example, the eSprinter uses fiberglass springs to accommodate the increased weight of the 113kWh capacity LFP battery pack. The result on the streets of Orange County, California is a smooth ride that deftly swallowed ruts and bumps in the road. Compounded with smooth (quiet) acceleration from either the standard 100 kW motor (starting at $74,181) or high-output 150 kW motor (starting at $77,611), the eSprinter delivers the type of driving experience that's likely to improve the working lives of its drivers.
All of the vans we drove have a quieter smoother ride that should translate to less cognitive stress on drivers. At the LA Auto Show, we did back-to-back drives of the Rivian delivery van and Ram ProMaster EV. Both vehicles, like the Mercedes by the nature of their powertrain, have less noise and vibration than their traditional gas and diesel-powered counterparts. For those in the cab all day, that could result in a less stressful experience.
For the fleet managers, there is a reduction in maintenance required by an electric vehicle. Although, that is likely initially offset by the need to invest in a more expensive vehicle.
Still, charging is easier to monitor than gasoline which can vary in price from day to day. That should make fleet managers happy. Drivers will likely enjoy the quieter, smoother ride, and the instant-on capabilities of an EV.
The fact that Mercedes is moving forward with its next-generation electric van means that it and other automakers understand that sustainable transportation is not only good for the environment, in many instances it's good for the health of drivers and the financial health of companies.