Many electrical vans have been shunned by companies and personal patrons as a result of they don’t have sufficient vary for something apart from city actions. Nevertheless, with a pretty big new lithium iron phosphate (LFP) 113 kWh battery pack, the Mercedes-Benz eSprinter ought to simply present over 200 miles of vary in regular operation, which opens up a brand new realm of prospects.
It doesn’t have an official EPA vary estimate as a result of the EPA would not check industrial autos. In Europe, nonetheless, it’s rated at 271 miles on the WLTP cycle. Our estimate, primarily based on the identified optimism of the WLTP check cycle versus the rather more correct EPA vary score, is that the eSprinter ought to provide you with round 220 to 230 miles.
The eSprinter is an electrical van that is smart
With a bigger battery than the 100 kWh pack that Rivian places in the Amazon supply van, the Mercedes eSprinter has sufficient vary to fulfill most each day wants and will also be DC fast-charged for fast vary replenishment.
If you would like the 113 kWh battery, it’s a must to get 170-inch wheelbase high-roof eSprinter, which prices beginning at just below $72,000. That will get you the usual output motor with 134 horsepower, however for a further $3,340, you’ll be able to improve to the 201-hp motor just like the one in the EQV we examined a couple of years in the past. Torque for each motors is identical at 295 pound-feet.
Mercedes additionally presents a smaller 81 kWh battery, which you’ll have in the identical massive boy physique or the shorter 144-inch wheelbase mannequin with the decrease roof. That model is about $10,000 cheaper, however it’s nowhere close to as roomy and never pretty much as good at carrying tall gadgets like fridges upright.
To check whether or not the large eSprinter with the brand new battery is lower out for a longer-haul life within the US, Kyle Conner from Out of Spec Evaluations subjected the van to a 70-mph freeway vary check. After 177 miles of freeway driving, it had 1% battery left, and though it was solely delivering half of its nominal energy, it was nonetheless capable of preserve 70 mph.
With 1% remaining, Kyle pulled off the freeway and stored driving it on the slower roads across the charging station. By the point he reached the charger, the state of cost had dropped to 0% with 179 miles on the journey meter. Understand that this was solely freeway driving at a relentless 70 mph—the EPA check includes a mixture of freeway and metropolis driving, the latter of which is way extra environment friendly in EVs—so the result’s greater than admirable.
We additionally discovered this extra in-depth assessment of the eSprinter by TFLEV, the place they present extra of its options, speak about the way it drives and charge it for practicality. It’s unsurprisingly manner smoother to drive than a combustion engine Sprinter, helped by the close to silent working of an electrical motor. One cool reality they level out is that it has composite somewhat than steel leaf springs for the rear suspension, serving to it take care of the additional weight from the battery pack.
It is a intelligent resolution, one that permits the eSprinter to supply the very best vary of any U.S.-market electrical van. If you should put critical mileage in your electrical van, it is the one to get.
