Mercedez Benz News Mercedes Unveils The First All-Electric Luxury Van

[Drew Dowdell]

Following the Concept EQV at the Geneva Auto Show back in March, Mercedes-Benz has pulled the wraps off the production version ahead of the Frankfurt Auto Show coming up in September. 

The Mercedes says that the EQV will have a range of about 250 miles and rapid charging from 10 percent to 80 percent of the 100 kWh battery in less than one hour. Interior space is not compromised as the battery is stored under the floor of the vehicle.  Drivers can control the recuperation levels with paddles behind the steering wheel, with the strongest setting being akin to braking allowing single pedal operation. The drive unit is a 204 horsepower / 267 lb-ft of torque motor that drives the front wheels. Top speed is said to be 99 mph. 

Passengers can expect a lounge like interior with EQ specific décor and the MBUX infotainment system. Two wheelbases will be available. 

Sales in the US are an unknown at this time, but with the threat of tariffs looming, we highly doubt it. The only EV that Daimler offered in the US is the Smart Fourtwo, but that model and brand will be departing the US for China after 2019.  

 

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[David]

Very cool as I see plenty of use for this in inner city deliveries.

My only WTF is the placement of the battery recharge port, drivers side corner of bumper. 

Nissan is in the front of the auto. GM just in front of the drivers door. To me this makes much more logical sense to see it and unplug.

For the bulk of people, I see no reason to not use the gas filler spot from ICE auto's.

[smk4565]

This would be a great city delivery vehicle or even a family hauler.  250 miles of range (which is probably a Euro number and might be more like 200 miles in heat or winter)  is plenty for daily use of hauling kids around.  Lots of potential uses for this, and they could possibly build them in South Carolina at the Sprinter factory.  I imagine the Chinese market will be huge as they crack down on ICE vehicles.

Only thing is front drive 204 hp?  Would be nice to see a dual motor 450 hp version to be the Tesla of mini-vans.

[riviera74]

3 hours ago, dfelt said:

Very cool as I see plenty of use for this in inner city deliveries.

My only WTF is the placement of the battery recharge port, drivers side corner of bumper. 

Nissan is in the front of the auto. GM just in front of the drivers door. To me this makes much more logical sense to see it and unplug.

For the bulk of people, I see no reason to not use the gas filler spot from ICE auto's.

The placement of the plug in the front or near the front is actually a good idea.  It reduces confusion for most people, given that most ICE autos have the gas tank filler spot on the rear quarter (either left or right).

[surreal1272]

3 hours ago, dfelt said:

Very cool as I see plenty of use for this in inner city deliveries.

My only WTF is the placement of the battery recharge port, drivers side corner of bumper. 

Nissan is in the front of the auto. GM just in front of the drivers door. To me this makes much more logical sense to see it and unplug.

For the bulk of people, I see no reason to not use the gas filler spot from ICE auto's.

This is the perfect use of EV tech (although a little more range would nice considering the primary use of these).

 

Not sure how this is funny to some folks other than to just troll as usual. Ever the pessimist they are I guess. 

[frogger]

34 minutes ago, surreal1272 said:

 

Not sure how this is funny to some folks other than to just troll as usual. Ever the pessimist they are I guess. 

Stop escalating everything into personal attacks

Edited August 21, 2019 by frogger

[ykX]

When we went to Italy couple years ago we took together with our friends a transfer service from Rome to a town on the Amalfi Coast.  It was in the ICE version of this van, which i have to say was very nice and comfortable.   The distance was about 160miles, almost 3.5 hours.  This EV version theoretically could make same trip easily, than charge couple hours and do it again. 

[surreal1272]

1 hour ago, frogger said:

Stop escalating everything into personal attacks

No escalation. Someone decided the first two posts were funny via the emoji button and I made a statement to that fact. I won’t apologize for someone else’s constant trolling. 

Edited August 21, 2019 by surreal1272

[Robert Hall]

19 hours ago, dfelt said:

Very cool as I see plenty of use for this in inner city deliveries.

My only WTF is the placement of the battery recharge port, drivers side corner of bumper. 

Nissan is in the front of the auto. GM just in front of the drivers door. To me this makes much more logical sense to see it and unplug.

For the bulk of people, I see no reason to not use the gas filler spot from ICE auto's.

Yeah, seems like an odd spot for it.  There is no standard for where chargers sit relative to vehicles, unlike gas pumps which an ICE vehicle pulls up beside...vehicles can be beside, in front of, or behind a charger...as long as the power hose is long enough to reach, the port can be most anywhere... this van appears to be related to the Metris, so an electric delivery van for Amazon, etc would make a lot of sense in parts of the US. 

Edited August 21, 2019 by Robert Hall

[balthazar]

An Odyessey starts at $30K; for mercedes' 2nd foray into minivans, this had better be price-competitive if it expects to gain a foothold in the family shuttle segment. 

[ykX]

9 minutes ago, balthazar said:

An Odyessey starts at $30K; for mercedes' 2nd foray into minivans, this had better be price-competitive if it expects to gain a foothold in the family shuttle segment. 

Odyssey that will be at least somehow compatible in features to MB will be close or most likely over $40k

[Drew Dowdell]

26 minutes ago, balthazar said:

An Odyessey starts at $30K; for mercedes' 2nd foray into minivans, this had better be price-competitive if it expects to gain a foothold in the family shuttle segment. 

This isn't a family hauler... this is more Airport Shuttle / Hotel Shuttle. One hour recharge to 80% is good for these. 

[balthazar]

[Reacting to the comment 'you could haul kids around'] An EV MB minivan is going to start more like $80K (the 2012 R-350 was $52K). You could buy 2 Odysseys and get vehicles that don't look like they require commercial plates.

Edited August 21, 2019 by balthazar

[ccap41]

That could be said about any luxury branded vehicle ever... 

[David]

3 hours ago, balthazar said:

An Odyessey starts at $30K; for mercedes' 2nd foray into minivans, this had better be price-competitive if it expects to gain a foothold in the family shuttle segment. 

I am sure the Koolaid drinking MB faithful will not think twice about the uber luxury EV Minivan from MB.  

[Robert Hall]

1 minute ago, dfelt said:

I am sure the Koolaid drinking MB faithful will not think twice about the uber luxury EV Minivan from MB.  

I am surprised they haven't marketed a Vito or Metris family luxury minivan in the US before...I'm sure there are people that would buy one for the badge alone... 

[Drew Dowdell]

3 minutes ago, Robert Hall said:

I am surprised they haven't marketed a Vito or Metris family luxury minivan in the US before...I'm sure there are people that would buy one for the badge alone... 

They tried that with the R-Class and it fall down go boom. 

[smk4565]

2 hours ago, balthazar said:

[Reacting to the comment 'you could haul kids around'] An EV MB minivan is going to start more like $80K (the 2012 R-350 was $52K). You could buy 2 Odysseys and get vehicles that don't look like they require commercial plates.

A Metris is priced like an Odyssey, this won’t cost double.  And it is more of a commercial unit than a family vehicle but of course it can do both.  Also the Odyssey isn’t electric.   So this wins in operating costs and if China bans ICE engines then the Odyssey isn’t even an option.

[Robert Hall]

7 minutes ago, Drew Dowdell said:

They tried that with the R-Class and it fall down go boom. 

That was just a funny looking wagon, though.  Not a proper tall roof minivan w/ sliding doors.

[smk4565]

This is a step one for a really perfect ride sharing vehicle.  If they can make an autonomous version then Uber’s and Lyft’s business model makes sense and you can have self driving electric vans shuttling people around for 6 hours, come in for a recharge and quick clean then it goes back out for 6 hours.

Uber and Lyft won’t make money until they get rid of a driver and if you are getting driven in a robo taxi then a van is a lot better option than a compact sedan.

[ccap41]

17 minutes ago, smk4565 said:

A Metris is priced like an Odyssey, this won’t cost double.  And it is more of a commercial unit than a family vehicle but of course it can do both.  Also the Odyssey isn’t electric.   So this wins in operating costs and if China bans ICE engines then the Odyssey isn’t even an option.

It's still a Mercedes. It will never beat a Honda on operating costs no matter what powers either vehicle. 

13 minutes ago, smk4565 said:

This is a step one for a really perfect ride sharing vehicle.

The Bolt has already been out for a few years. 

[David]

14 minutes ago, smk4565 said:

This is a step one for a really perfect ride sharing vehicle.  If they can make an autonomous version then Uber’s and Lyft’s business model makes sense and you can have self driving electric vans shuttling people around for 6 hours, come in for a recharge and quick clean then it goes back out for 6 hours.

Uber and Lyft won’t make money until they get rid of a driver and if you are getting driven in a robo taxi then a van is a lot better option than a compact sedan.

Do we really want Johnny Cab Robo Taxi's running around the city?

[ccap41]

I'd be okay with a robo-car picking me up and dropping me off places. 

22 minutes ago, smk4565 said:

 Also the Odyssey isn’t electric.   So this wins in operating costs

I bet an NSX has lower operating costs than a CLA45. 

[David]

4 minutes ago, ccap41 said:

It's still a Mercedes. It will never beat a Honda on operating costs no matter what powers either vehicle. 

The Bolt has already been out for a few years. 

I love the BOLT, but am very disappointed in GM lack of offering diverse interiors on that auto especially with the number of customers saying they did not like the Black and White dash that is default for all the black, grey or black n grey interiors. They should have offered better colors and interior options from the begining.

[Drew Dowdell]

31 minutes ago, dfelt said:

Do we really want Johnny Cab Robo Taxi's running around the city?

Already have them here.