There’s a new van in the works, and this one is fully electric.
While we have the Chrysler Pacifica Plug-in Hybrid and two conventional hybrid offerings with the Toyota Sienna and Kia Carnival, van makers aren’t yet moving toward fully electric solutions outside the commercial space. That should change by 2026, as Mercedes-Benz is planning for the first models on its “Van.EA” platform to arrive for public consumption, both for business and private use.
For those already steeped in van lore — #vanlife is still a thing, after all — you’ll know that Mercedes already has one electric van with the eSprinter. This one brings a different sort of vibe to the equation, as the automaker is making bold claims that it’s taking steps toward the “reinvention of the van”. After testing the chassis, battery pack and powertrain components on the North Cape in Norway this summer, the company aims to hit its next milestone winter testing in Sweden.
“Reinventing” the van is a big claim, and there aren’t too many technical details to actually back up that claim yet, apart from having a smaller electric model. Naturally, this van sits below the Sprinter in the lineup, though we aren’t necessarily looking at a new Metris. At least, Mercedes probably won’t call the production model that when it actually hits U.S. dealers. Apart from that, we know it will feature either front- or all-wheel drive, Mercedes’ latest operating system for infotainment, and “will be equipped to meet a wide variety of customer requirements.” The usual stuff, in other words.
On its face, you know the game plan, even with the camouflage. It has a typical van profile with powertrain bits at the front, a couple sliding doors and a large rear hatch. Apart from that…well, it’s a van. So, Mercedes-Benz can (and will) offer a cargo van variant, while the passenger version will range from “VIP shuttles to luxurious and spacious limousines”, the automaker says. As it’s done in the past with its vans, we may also see camper van variants as part of the eventual rollout with the production model.
We’ll have to wait a bit longer to know more, considering the prototypes have been extensively testing over the past several months. It’s unclear whether we’d eventually see an everyday passenger model to offer a more luxurious option to minivan buyers, though its potential price tag could pose an issue when it comes to family use. Mercedes is keen to sell a whole range of electric SUVs though, so you never know.
