Mercedes-Benz eSprinter Vary Check: The EV Van Champ

Many electrical vans have been shunned by companies and personal consumers as a result of they don’t have sufficient vary for something aside 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 potentialities.

It doesn’t have an official EPA vary estimate as a result of the EPA does not check business autos. In Europe, nonetheless, it’s rated at 271 miles on the WLTP cycle. Our estimate, based mostly on the identified optimism of the WLTP check cycle versus the way more correct EPA vary ranking, is that the eSprinter ought to offer you round 220 to 230 miles.

If you would like the 113 kWh battery, it’s a must to get 170-inch wheelbase high-roof eSprinter, which prices beginning at slightly below $72,000. That will get you the usual output motor with 134 horsepower, however for a further $3,340, you possibly can improve to the 201-hp motor just like the one in the EQV we examined a number of years in the past. Torque for each motors is similar at 295 pound-feet.

Mercedes additionally presents a smaller 81 kWh battery, which you’ll be able to have in the identical huge boy physique or the shorter 144-inch wheelbase mannequin with the decrease roof. That model is about $10,000 cheaper, but it surely’s nowhere close to as roomy and never nearly as good at carrying tall gadgets like fridges upright.

To check whether or not the large eSprinter with the brand new battery is reduce 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. Remember that this was solely freeway driving at a continuing 70 mph—the EPA check includes a mixture of freeway and metropolis driving, the latter of which is much extra environment friendly in EVs—so the result’s greater than admirable.

We additionally discovered this extra in-depth evaluate of the eSprinter by TFLEV, the place they present extra of its options, speak about the way it drives and price it for practicality. It’s unsurprisingly approach smoother to drive than a combustion engine Sprinter, helped by the close to silent operating of an electrical motor. One cool reality they level out is that it has composite somewhat than metallic leaf springs for the rear suspension, serving to it cope with the additional weight from the battery pack. 

It is a intelligent answer, one that permits the eSprinter to supply the very best vary of any U.S.-market electrical van. If you’ll want to put critical mileage in your electrical van, it is the one to get.