Mercedes-Benz eVito and EQV confirmed for Oz

Mercedes-Benz Vans has confirmed it will launch three new electric vehicles in Australia next year – the 2022 Mercedes-Benz eVito and eVito Tourer and the Mercedes-Benz EQV.

In a move that is likely to strike a chord with green-friendly fleets, commercial operators and families alike, the German prestige car-maker will launch the three new EV models, which span the mid-size commercial van and people-mover segments, from the second half of next year.

It has also committed to launching the Mercedes-Benz eSprinter large van “around 2024”.

Mercedes-Benz Vans Australia managing director, Diane Tarr, said the trio of vans due next year represented a key step towards sustainability in the trade transport and people-mover spaces.

“We are confident that the electric drive will gain more prevalence here over the coming years,” she said.

“As it does, we will be ready with a strong customer-centric electric product portfolio, which offers the potential to assist customers with lowering their operating costs and reducing their environmental impact.

“The eSprinter is intended to follow in or around 2024 when the next-generation eSprinter van becomes available.”

Local specifications for the 2022 Mercedes-Benz eVito are still to be confirmed, but models introduced in Europe last year debuted with an 85kW/300Nm electric motor driving the front wheels and drawing energy from a 35kWh lithium-ion battery that enabled a claimed 148km range (WLTP).

The silence around the eVito specs for Australia may be because it will upgrade to a more powerful 150kW/362Nm electric motor promising better performance and a longer range.

This latter powertrain has been confirmed for the eVito Tourer which is targeted at hotel shuttle fleets, large-capacity taxi or ride share fleets.

The Mercedes-Benz eVito Tourer offers a driving range of up to 361km (WLTP), together with a 10-80 per cent charging time of less than 45 minutes when using a 110kW DC fast-charger (or 10 hours using an 11kW household wallbox), according to the car-maker.

On the family front, the Mercedes-Benz EQV takes the regular V-Class people-mover and adds a 150kW/362Nm electric motor that offers up to 356km between charges of its 90kWh lithium-ion battery that’s mounted under the floor.

The battery can be charged from 10-80 per cent in less than 45 minutes when using a 110kW DC fast-charger, according to Benz, or 10 hours using an 11kW household wallbox.

Regenerative braking can be adjusted via paddles behind the steering wheel and Mercedes’ voice-controlled MBUX infotainment system will come standard, featuring a 10-inch display showing live energy flow, consumption data, navigation and pre-journey temperature.

The Airmatic air suspension system should be available as an option.

Offering seating configurations for seven or eight people, the 2022 Mercedes-Benz EQV also features a luggage capacity of 1030 litres.

The electric MPV introduces a black panel in place of the regular grille, adds rose gold and blue interior trim accents and rides on bespoke 18-inch alloy wheels.

Pricing is yet to be confirmed for any of the new EV models. Currently the Mercedes-Benz Vito range starts at $42,900 plus on-road costs.

It is expected the electrified variants will cost almost double that amount, but promise cheaper servicing and running costs than diesel-fed equivalents.

Mercedes-Benz has indicated it will offer internal-combustion and electric versions concurrently for the foreseeable future.

“Thanks to the flexibility of our global vans production strategy, we intend to offer both conventional and battery-electric vans side by side, and are preparing to switch to electric-only in the future when customer and market demand determines it,” the car-maker said.