As Mercedes-Benz speeds towards an all-electric future globally, it’s also electrifying its business phase within the U.S.
The luxurious automaker will carry a battery-powered model of its workhorse Sprinter van to the U.S. and Canada within the second half of the yr. The U.S. is the second-largest marketplace for Sprinter vans after Germany.
Mercedes mentioned it has invested about $375 million in creating the brand new eSprinter, together with $161 million at crops in North Charleston, S.C., and Düsseldorf and Ludwigsfelde, Germany, to assemble it.
Auto Forcast Options expects Mercedes to construct about 15,000 eSprinters globally in its first full calendar yr of manufacturing. The forecasting agency famous that quantity manufacturing in Charleston will start this summer time with “only a couple thousand” autos projected to be constructed there in 2024.
The eSprinter, constructed on Mercedes’ Electrical Versatility Platform, might be provided with three battery choices and may be configured as a supply van, flatbed truck, individuals mover or ambulance.
Mercedes initially will carry the longest-range model of the cargo van to the U.S. The high-roof, long-wheelbase mannequin has a 113-kilowatt-hour battery that delivers a driving vary of as much as 249 miles, based mostly on WLTP estimates. The car has a carrying capability of 488 cubic ft.
Business clients prioritize cargo-hauling functionality over driving vary, mentioned Jeff Aiosa, proprietor of Mercedes-Benz of New London in Connecticut. “In city areas, the vary is not as large of a priority,” mentioned Aiosa. “The business is all-in on electrical. It is a good factor we’re additionally transitioning our business aspect to electrical.”
The German automaker started promoting the eSprinter, a battery-powered model of the boxy Sprinter van, in Europe in 2020. Mercedes has hesitated to carry the EV to the U.S. due to its restricted driving vary and the excessive price of U.S. market homologation.
However the aggressive panorama has modified. Rising demand for electrical supply vans, tightening emissions rules and new merchandise from opponents have pushed Mercedes to maneuver forward with a U.S. eSprinter.
Guidehouse Insights initiatives North American gross sales of battery-electric gentle business autos and supply vans will attain 439,000 autos in 2030, up from about 48,000 in 2023.
Fleets are more and more all in favour of going electrical as extra car choices turn into accessible for extra use circumstances, significantly for native functions that do not require way more than 100 miles per day, Guidehouse Principal Analyst Sam Abuelsamid advised Automotive Information.
“EVs provide substantial working price financial savings for gas and upkeep,” Abuelsamid mentioned. “The provision of business EVs from mainstream producers with established vendor and repair networks that may keep away from extreme downtime makes these merchandise extra engaging to companies.”
Mercedes-Benz’s established opponents within the giant van sector both have launched or will quickly launch electrical vans, together with the Ford e-Transit, Brightdrop from Common Motors and Ram Promaster EV from Stellantis. Logistics giants Amazon, FedEx, UPS and DHL are additionally including electrical vans to their fleets.
“And not using a aggressive electrical providing, Mercedes dangers dropping market share,” Abuelsamid mentioned.
The brand new eSprinter’s modular platform will enchantment to a broad vary of fleet clients, AutoForecast Options analyst Conrad Layson mentioned. “Fleet managers can tailor their autos straight from Mercedes, saving upfitting prices,” Layson mentioned.
The rear-wheel-drive van makes use of a entrance part with high-voltage elements widespread to all mannequin variants, no matter their wheelbase and battery dimension.
The battery pack within the car’s underbody between the axles provides the van a low middle of gravity that improves driving efficiency and security.
Mercedes makes use of lower-cost lithium iron phosphate cells within the new eSprinter. LFP batteries, which comprise no cobalt or nickel, are about 30 p.c cheaper than nickel manganese cobalt, in line with BloombergNEF.
The rear module homes the compact electrical motor and electrically pushed rear axle. The roughly 286-pound everlasting magnet synchronous motor is on the market in 100-kilowatt and 150-kilowatt horsepower variations, delivering about 295 pound-feet of torque.
The eSprinter is able to quick charging from 10 to 80 p.c in about 42 minutes, Mercedes mentioned.
“The triad of effectivity, vary and cargo capability with simultaneous TCO (complete price of possession) optimization makes the brand new eSprinter essentially the most versatile Mercedes-Benz eVan ever,” Mercedes-Benz Vans’ boss Mathias Geisen mentioned in an announcement.