8 minute read
Mercedes-Benz e Sprinter
Given the renowed reputation of the Mercedes-Benz brand, it’s no surprise that the eSprinter is regarded as the premium urban delivery vehicle. Andrew Walker takes one for a spin
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We first drove the latest iteration of the best-selling Mercedes-Benz Sprinter back in 2018 and came away, as you would expect, mightily impressed. The brand spent a couple of years working on the technology before adding an electric version to the line-up in 2020.
It’s an obvious stablemate to its conventionally powered sibling. The eSprinter shares its running gear with the smaller eVito electric van, which we also drove back in 2020 and like its smaller electric brethren, it’s quite a bit more expensive than the diesel variant, with prices starting at £51,950 for the eSprinter Progressive L2 H2 FWD. This price excludes VAT and the OLEV grant, which is currently a maximum of £6,000. Customers should note that where the diesel range feature three specs – Pure, Progressive and Premium – the eSprinter is only offered in Progressive trim and with one size of battery, at just over 55kWh in capacity, which equates to a range of up to 96 miles.
The big question, of course, what is it like compared to a diesel Sprinter?
From the outside, there’s not a lot to distinguish the eSprinter from any other Sprinters. There’s a lower case blue ‘e’ in front of Sprinter on the rear left door and hidden underneath the Benz badge located in the centre of the front grille, is the EV charging port. Even inside it’s almost identical to an auto diesel Sprinter, featuring the same steering wheel stalk gear lever, an identical dashboard and offers the same cabin storage. There’s also a top quality finish to the dash and the neat and tidy matt black interior.
The main difference is that underneath the Start button is a Drive Mode selector, which allows you to select from three electric driving modes, C, E and E+. C stands for Comfort and is the default mode, delivering the full power and torque of the van. E is for Economy and limits the power and torque, while E+ lowers the power further and also deactivates the climate control.
Furthermore, like many current EVs, eSprinter also comes with brake regeneration. You can adjust the level of this via steeringwheel-mounted paddles. The default is D- , offering the most regen, and you can also opt for D or D+, which both reduce the braking force.
There’s also the option to choose D++, which turns the regen braking off. All of these settings can be viewed in the instrument cluster located in front of the driver.
How well equipped is it?
You get a heated seat for the driver with armrest, dual passenger seat, comfort overhead control panel, a full-width partition, height and rake adjustable steering wheel, TEMPMATIC air-con, a wooden floor, a mode 3 type 2 eight-metre charging cable, linear speed limiter 120km/h, headlight assistant, heatinsulating glass, and 270-degree double-wing rear-end doors.
In addition to DAB radio, the Mercedes-Benz audio system comes with a Bluetooth interface with hands-free function and a USB port.
Safety features include Active Brake ASSIST, Attention ASSIST, Crosswind ASSIST and Emergency eCall. There is also a Thatcham Category 1 approved alarm.
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You also get remote locking, theft warning alerts and geo-fencing, thanks to Mercedes PRO connect.
Recharging details
Standard charging speed is 20kW, which takes two hours to charge from 10 to 80 per cent. This can be upgraded to 80kW rapidcharging which lowers that time to 30 minutes. Both options come as standard with an eight-metre Type 2 cable. We would definitely recommend either of these charging methods as fully charging the eSprinter at home, as we discovered on a 7.4kW Rolec home charger (https://www.rolecserv.com/home-charging) takes upwards of eight hours.
It’s worth knowing that Mercedes PRO connect is free for the first two years when you buy an eSprinter. It features a remote eCharging function, which enables drivers to programme cooling or heating while their van is still charging. Use this regularly and you will conserve battery energy while maximising driving range.
Do the batteries reduce payload or load space?
Four parallel high-voltage battery blocks are installed securely in the eSprinter’s underbody as standard, so that these can be replaced individually in the event of damage. The clever location means that the load space on eSprinter remains uncompromised. However, due to the extra battery weight, the payload is reduced to 774kg. While this may seem a major negative, we would argue that due to its short range of 96 miles, the eSprinter is really built for last-mile deliveries.
With a load area of 11 cubic metres, three metres of loading length and over two metres of height, in effect it’s perfect for parcels. To back us up, Amazon has ordered 800 for its UK fleet.
But what’s the eSprinter like to drive and most importantly, how good is it’s claimed range?
Offering single speed, FWD transmission, powered only by a 114hp electric motor, the eSprinter gets up to 30 mph quickly and then the acceleration peters out. We took it out on the motorway and just like the diesel model, the eSprinter is a every quiet place to be, limiting outside wind and road noise.
At a constant 62mph the eSprinter makes good progress. We used E driving mode on departure, as the outside temperature was below zero which made E+ a no-go. We also used the D brake regeneration, which enabled us to recharge when we slowed down. After a journey of 43 miles, the battery range reduced from 96 miles to 53 miles – bang on one mile used per mile of charge. Pretty impressive; it’s amazing how few vans can match this. In a smaller electric van driven the previous week, we had only averaged 0.5 miles driven to every 1 mile of range.
A couple of local trips over shorter distances resulted in the same findings. Drive a mile, use a mile of range. Handling in town is decent too, with the light Sprinter steering a real bonus.
For van fleet operators, our range results are a positive, enabling companies to plan their routes and driving distances accordingly and to factor in regular re-charging as well.
It can’t all be good news, can it?
While the cabin is very comfortable, the seating wide enough for three and the cabin easy to get in and out of, the single spec option of Progressive on eSprinter means that drivers miss out on MB’s excellent 10.25” colour touchscreen media system, fitted on Premium models. This means access to a mono display, non-touch screen, fitted with a DAB radio and single ‘C’ USB input.
Also, the steering wheel on eSprinter doesn’t feature any short cut buttons, so you can’t adjust the radio or Bluetooth hands-free phone volume or change the function without having to reach across the cab to push the buttons manually.
In addition, we praised the Benz’s brake regeneration earlier, but utilising this on the motorway and trying to keep a constant speed, as we also found on the eVito, can become a chore. Brake re-generation makes the accelerator pedal feel heavy, so more effort is required to push it. Premium specced Sprinter features cruise control, a far less tiresome way to drive at a constant speed and an option that would make the eSprinter even more rangefriendly.
Will it work for me?
If your business involves carrying lighter payloads, travelling shorter distances in or around an urban area, then yes, the eSprinter is definitely worth your consideration. With a starting price north of 50k you’ll have to look at the eSprinter as a long-term investment before it begins to save your business money. Charge your eSprinter regularly, especially overnight on cheaper electricity, utilise the range daily, take advantage of the OLEV grant and reduced taxation and the eSprinter will start saving you money quicker than you’d imagine.
Servicing costs should reduce too, as electric motors have fewer moving parts than a combustion engine, so in theory, there’s less to go wrong or need replacing. Furthermore, the eSprinter comes with a three-year unlimited mileage warranty and the battery pack is warranted for eight years, or 100,000 miles, guaranteeing at least 70% capacity after this time.
Finally, Mercedes-Benz Pro Connect service comes free for two years with each eSprinter. It’s designed to help business users utilise data, enabling them to simplify the use of vans within their day-to-day use. With an electric van this type of tech is even more relevant, as it will allow operators to keep on top of a vehicle that offers a far shorter range than a diesel and is far more likely to be delivering door to door. Another great selling point for the eSprinter.
CC&V VERDICT
As with any EV, the verdict lies in understanding its range and your needs. You can be reassured that the range does not lie: if it says one mile, you’ll drive a mile, and that’s great news. In addition, the eSprinter has a modern, clutter-free interior, with high quality fixtures, pa hard wearing finish and plenty of standard safety kit. What we have here is a large electric panel-van that does anything and everything you’d want a large panel-van to do, but over shorter distances, so factor in huge storage space, decent urban handling and zero emissions. It’s a package that makes a very strong case to add one to your fleet.
CC&V RATING:
N N N N N
