Mercedes-Benz has made the move to offer all its commercial van model lines with electric drive.

The vehicle manufacturer plans to electrify all its commercial model ranges over the next few years, starting with the mid-size eVito, which is now available to order in Germany.  Deliveries will commence in the second half of 2018 and further model ranges will follow, starting in 2019.

Mercedes Benz presented its holistic electric drive strategy at the eDrive@VANs workshop in Berlin. According to the manufacturer the focus was not just on the electric van itself, but also on a technological ecosystem tailored specifically to customers’ business needs.

A holistic approach to commercial fleets

A holistic strategy based on five cornerstones delivers an innovative total-system solution covering the entire value chain of commercial usage.

In order to meet this goal, customer co-creation plays a central role in product development, integrating the strategic partner and their industry expertise into the development process. The new eVito is the first production vehicle to have been developed using this strategic approach.

“We are convinced by the necessity of electric drive in our vans, especially in city centre applications. That said, electrification of the commercial fleet is not an end in itself, but follows the same principles as a classic drive when it comes to profitability,” says Volker Mornhinweg, Head of Mercedes-Benz Vans.

“With our eDrive@VANs initiative, we’re showing that only holistic mobility solutions extending beyond the drive itself present a real alternative for commercial customers”, he adds.

The eVito will be followed in 2019 by the eSprinter. The line-up will then be rounded off by the Citan. The commercial model ranges with electric drive will thus cover all requirements from people moving to goods transport.