Mercedes-Benz plans to introduce a luxury mid-size passenger van for the first time in the US and China, along with factory-built RVs, the company revealed Tuesday.
The announcement is part of the company’s most comprehensive look yet at its next generation. Electrical Architecture “.EA”. All of these Mercedes-Benz electric trucks will be built on a shared set of components and modules that will underpin a wide range of future mid- and large-sized electric trucks started by the company. from 2026—although the firm has yet to set an end date for internal combustion vans that will continue to be produced.
The company hopes to see 20 percent of its vans electric by 2026 and 50 percent by 2030. Mercedes says it has doubled its U.S. van market share from 2018 to 2022—from 8% to 16 % market.
Mercedes electric van progress
The flagship electric trucks will be built on the VAN.EA platform, which aims to produce scalability, efficiency and simplicity, while completely eliminating legacy internal combustion features such as fuel filler caps. material and drive shaft tunnel. According to the company, it also “ensures long-term profitability.”
Vehicles built on the .EA platform will have more styling and design attributes than those built on the ICE platform. There will be less core configuration differences though; Mercedes is aiming to reduce the number of variants by more than 50% compared to current trucks, while covering similar use cases.
Mercedes-Benz says the VAN.EA platform follows a modular strategy that allows for “a clear distinction between trucks for commercial and private use—with maximum synergy.”
Valve.EA three modules
VAN.EA consists of three modular blocks. The front block is the same on all vehicles and includes an electric drivetrain and front axle. A central block scales the vehicle length and houses battery packs of different sizes depending on need. And a rear module is offered with or without an electric motor.
That means the VAN.EA is only available in front- or all-wheel drive configurations, with no plans yet for a rear-wheel drive configuration. That would mark a complete turning point from rear-wheel drive eSprinter vans will be manufactured in South Carolina for deliveries beginning later this year, but the return to the front-wheel drive layout of first generation eSprinter Not sold in the United States. That eSprinter also builds on the idea of three core modules—just in its case, revolving around rear-wheel drive.
Van.EA – cargo and passengers
Mercedes divides the electric vans they can build with VAN.EA into two categories: VAN.EA-P and VAN.EA-C.
The VAN.EA-P service will include luxury private vans positioned to provide a range in excess of 310 miles (drive cycle undisclosed)—built on eSprinter already has outstanding performance and range. Mercedes says it can meet the demand for VIP shuttle service, more active families or as a “local CO2 zero mobile office”.
VAN.EA-C trucks will target the premium segment of the delivery market, with specific “factory built” trucks aimed at courier, courier and parcel (delivery) use. last mile) — as well as grocery trucks, ambulances, or recreational vehicles.
Mercedes’ VAN.EA plans also include electric RVs, the company said, along with mid- and large-sized factory-built trucks on the way, based on the platform. The company has yet to go so far as to confirm a camper van for the United States—but such a version could please shoppers waiting for a cargo van. VW ID.Buzz camping car.
Van.EA electric camper van
VAN.EA will share approximately 50% of the core modules, as well as interior and exterior components, and next-generation safety and autonomous driving features with Mercedes’ Car.EA. It will also share features of the upcoming MB.OS operating system.
Mercedes announced that these models will be ready for SAE Level 2 driver assistance at launch and Level 3 automation (allowing drivers to turn their attention elsewhere under certain driving conditions). ) by the end of this decade. Commercial versions may be ready for Level 4 automation, meaning the pedals or steering may not even be available in some cases.
It’s ready for electric RVs on the software front with tailor-made navigation systems tailored to larger sizes and charging needs, the company suggests, noting the charge and load management system intelligence that it has developed with and for Deutsche Post DHL.
Check out the range and efficiency of the Mercedes-Benz eSprinter
Synergy can yield big results, with a range of cars, SUVs and trucks that feel more distinct but have a common set of components underneath. Worldwide, Mercedes says 80% of its dealerships serve both passenger cars and vans, and the two divisions share IT and back-end systems. At the beginning of 2022, trucks were combined with passenger cars when the company split into two companies: Mercedes-Benz (cars and trucks) and Daimler Trucks (trucks and buses).
