Mercedes-Benz Vans and Amazon announce the largest order for Mercedes-Benz electric vehicles to date: more than 1,800 battery-electric eVito and eSprinter from Mercedes-Benz Vans will be delivered to Amazon starting this year to be used across Europe.
The order includes around 600 medium-sized eVito and more than 1,200 vehicles of the large-size van eSprinter.
“I am delighted that we are further intensifying our long-standing partnership with Amazon and working together on the battery-electric future of transportation,” says Marcus Breitschwerdt, Head of Mercedes-Benz Vans. “With the eVito and the eSprinter, we have electric vehicles in our portfolio, which are ideally suited for the requirements of the courier-, express- and parcel-service industry for goods delivery on the so-called ‘last mile’ in terms of their equipment and range. They show that local emission-free driving, convincing performance, comfort and low operating costs can be combined perfectly.”
Electrification of traffic on the so-called “last mile” is progressing. In particular, the courier-, express- and parcel-services industry (CEP) is a great driver here. The growing online trade and flexible delivery services in recent years not only brought an increase in inner-city traffic, but also lead to increasing local emission-free drives in urbanized areas. In addition, the preconditions are good for the use of electric vans in the CEP industry: routes can be planned well in advance, are manageable in length and distance and normally there are larger areas near distribution centres of the logistics service providers, which are suitable for the commissioning of corresponding charging infrastructure.
Mercedes-Benz Vans and Amazon: since 2018 in cooperation for modern mobility
Mercedes-Benz Vans and Amazon Logistics Germany recognized the potential of a collaboration in the field of electric mobility early on, and put into operation in 2018. Together with the Mercedes-Benz contract partner Fahrzeug-Werke LUEG AG and other partners equipped the Amazon distribution centre in the North Rhine-Westphalia city of Bochum with charging infrastructure. In July 2020 Europe’s largest connected charging infrastructure of about 340 charging points at the Amazon Delivery Station in Essen was established by LUEG basecamp GmbH. The companies have been cooperating in many ways also on an international basis.
Electric mobility from Mercedes-Benz Vans: locally emission-free specialists for goods and passenger transport
With the eVito in 2018 and the eSprinter in 2019, Mercedes-Benz Vans has taken on an important role in the segment for locally emission-free cargo transport in urban areas. The positioning of the battery in the subside of the vehicles creates a generous interior without any restrictions regarding the loading volume, which is particularly important for delivery services.
With the new Mercedes-Benz eVito Tourer available now with high-torque electric motor and 421 kilometres range, as well as the fully electric EQV, electric passenger transport has also grown to meet electric mobility requirements: as a hotel shuttle, as a large taxi or vehicle for ride sharing services. The Citan will also be available in its next generation with battery-electric drive and thus round off the electric product portfolio of Mercedes-Benz Vans.
Mercedes-Benz eSprinter: locally emission-free and with large load compartment
The eSprinter for Amazon are panel vans with a permissible gross vehicle weight of 3,500 kilograms in high roof design. The electric engine drives the front wheels and, like the diesel starter unit, delivers max. 85 kW with a torque of up to 295 Nm. With the eSprinter, the customer can choose between two battery capacities, depending on whether a greater range or a higher payload is prioritized. The vehicles produced for Amazon come with the larger battery, namely with a usable battery capacity of 47 kWh (installed: 55 kWh), have a range of 168 km and a maximum payload of 891 kilograms. For flexibility, the integrated quick charging function also ensures the battery can be recharged from 10 percent to 80 percent within approx. 25 minutes.
The load capacity of 11 m³ can be used without restriction because the batteries are installed under the loading floor. The eSprinter for Amazon includes state-of-the-art safety features like electrical parking brake, active brake assist, reverse camera, blind spot assist, crosswind assist and ATTENTION ASSIST.
With the eSprinter, the customer is also provided with an additional connectivity-capable electric vehicle as it has the installed connectivity module as standard. The advantages of the digitized eVan management can thus also be used for the eSprinter. The Mercedes PRO connect service “Remote-controlled charging management”, provides important information about the charging of the eSprinter (charge level, end of charge). In addition, pre-entry climate control can be activated and the vehicle interior can be pleasantly tempered even before starting, without this being at the expense of the range. The eSprinter for Amazon is produced at the Mercedes-Benz plant in Düsseldorf.
Mercedes-Benz eVito: flexible in urban use
The natural environment of the eVito panel van are urban areas. The eVito is also ideal for locally emission-free transport on the last mile. The installed battery capacity of 35 kWh (installed 41 kWh) ensures a range of 150 to 184 kilometers. After six hours of charging, the full range is available again. The battery-electric drive achieves max. 85 kW and achieves a torque of up to 295 Nm, tailor-made for urban use. The maximum speed can be configured when ordering depending on the application. If the eVito is mainly on the road in the inner city area – like the vans for Amazon – a maximum speed of 80 km/h protects the energy reserves and increases the range. Alternatively, a maximum speed of up to 120 km/h can be configured. The positioning of the battery in the substructure of the eVito creates a generous interior without restrictions with regard to the loading volume. In addition to the design as a panel van for goods transport, the eVito is also available as a Tourer, with a range of 421 kilometres and quick charging function for passenger transport. The eVito is built as the Vito in the Mercedes-Benz Vitoria plant, Spain.
