Canada & U.S. among target markets of the new Mercedes eSprinter

Mercedes-Benz is working on a new generation of its eSprinter. Based on Mercedes’ newly developed Electric Versatility Platform, the Mercedes eSprinter Van will launch in 2023 and will be produced at three locations, namely North Charleston, South Carolina, Dusseldorf, and Ludwigsfelde in Germany. The first generation eSprinter is currently built in Dusseldorf alongside the conventional Sprinter, and this trend will continue with both the North Charleston and Ludwigsfelde plants as well.

The company developed the Electric Versatility platform to create greater added value for future customers and form the technical basis for the upcoming 2023 eSprinter. In the press release issued by Mercedes in December 2020, Marcus Breitschwerdt, Head of Mercedes-Benz Vans, said that the company has initiated many innovations in recent years and has accelerated its electrification strategy combining both their innovation and expertise.

Specifications

Product specifications haven’t been shared. However, from the images released by Mercedes, the 2023 Mercedes eSprinter will be powered by a rear-mounted electric motor. It will also get a choice of at least three battery pack options – small, medium, and large – and all the other high-voltage components will be located at the front. These form the three modules that have allowed Mercedes to provide maximum flexibility to the eSprinter

Because of the modules’ placement, Mercedes can bring in a lot of different body type options that were unavailable on the combustion engine model. From the image shared by the company, the new eSprinter will be available in at least four choices – flatbed truck, people mover, ambulance, and eGrocery transporter. According to Mercedes, the next-gen eSprinter will come in 2 wheelbase choices.

The current-generation Mercedes eSprinter was launched in 2019. It is powered by a front-wheel-drive electric motor capable of 85 kW of peak power and 295 Nm of torque. It gets two battery options – a 41 kWh pack and a 55 kWh battery pack. While the 41 kWh battery pack allows for a total range of 120 km, the 55 kWh pack allows for about 168 km. The eSprinter also gets a quick charging function allowing for a 0-80 percent charge in about 25 minutes. Depending on the task, the top speed is also configurable to 80 km/h, 100 km/h, or 120 km/h. Expect every technical aspect of the eSprinter to improve with the incoming model.

eSprinter production

According to a release dated April 2021, the 2023 eSprinter is aimed at new customer segments and new markets, including the U.S. and Canada, and the company will invest close to EUR 350 million on the next-gen van.

Marcus Breitschwerdt, Head of Mercedes-Benz Vans, explained that next-gen eSprinter’s production in the U.S. and Germany ensured market-oriented production. The newly developed Electric Versatility Platform helps the company significantly expand their offerings in the commercial series, he added.

In Europe, expect the eSprinter to compete with the Fiat eDucato and the Renault Master Z.E.

North Charleston plant

The North Charleston plant in the U.S. only recently celebrated its 15^th anniversary. What started as a semi-knockdown facility in 2006 has now produced over 200,000 Sprinter and Metris vans. The decision to expand the facility into a full-scale production plant was made in 2015, adding a new body shop, paint shop, and extended assembly building. Three years and EUR 500 million later, the new plant was ready in 2018, just in time for the launch of the new Sprinter.

In a release dated August 5, 2021, Ingo Ettischer, Head of Mercedes-Benz Vans Global Operations, said that the Charleston plant would be the first to produce the next-gen eSprinter. The production is set to start in the second half of 2023, and an investment of EUR 50 million is expected to be made into the plant to optimize it for electric vehicle production.

New Mercedes eSprinter FAQs

Featured image source: Mercedes-Benz