Mercedes Plans One Electrical Van Platform To Rule Them All

Mercedes-Benz Vans has created a brand new battery electrical platform particularly for its van prospects. A van is a field on wheels that may carry out many duties. It may be a transportable workshop for plumbers, carpenters, electricians, and different tradespeople. It could possibly ship every thing from groceries to packages. It could possibly perform as an ambulance, a pet hospital, or an airport shuttle. A van can be a luxuriously appointed camper for individuals who like to hold all their worldly possessions with them after they journey.

To satisfy the wants of so many shoppers, van producers want to supply a dizzying array of configurations. Brief, medium, or lengthy wheelbase? Low roof, medium roof, or excessive roof? Gentle obligation, medium obligation, or heavy obligation? Some vans go away the manufacturing facility with nothing greater than a chassis and cab, so the area behind the motive force will be fitted with a specialised physique, resembling a passenger shuttle or ambulance.

Because the transition to electrical automobiles strikes ahead, van producers are realizing that they might want to adapt their electrical van choices to the wants of varied prospects whereas holding them reasonably priced. Some vans want longer vary which is able to price more cash. Some will solely require a shorter vary — particularly electrical work vans. They’ll price much less as a result of they are often fitted with smaller batteries.

The Mercedes VAN.EA Platform

This week, Mercedes introduced that, beginning in 2026, all its newly developed vans will likely be primarily based on only one single progressive, modular, and scalable structure referred to as VAN.EA, which is brief for Van Electrical Structure, an all-new purpose-built platform developed from scratch for its future electrical vans.

All future midsize and enormous vans will likely be constructed on it, each business and personal, the corporate says. These vans will deal with added worth for the shoppers and their particular person wants, whether or not for a business utility as a flexible premium all-rounder or as a personal luxurious van. Discover the emphasis on high-end merchandise. Mercedes-Benz won’t get down and grovel with the likes of Nissan and Peugeot, that are fortunate in the event that they break even on their electrical vans. That isn’t the market Mercedes is aiming for.

The VAN.EA structure technique will cut back the complexity of the corporate’s purpose-built electrical van portfolio, which is anticipated to end in important economies of scale. The variety of variants will likely be decreased by greater than 50% in comparison with the corporate’s present van lineup.

“Beginning 2026, we are going to introduce our purpose-built EV structure VAN.EA. This permits us to consolidate our midsize and enormous vans right down to just one structure and considerably cut back the complexity of our product portfolio. Most added worth for patrons with sustainable profitability on the similar time — VAN.EA clearly underscores our aspiration to ‘Lead in Electrical’,” stated Mathias Geisen, the pinnacle of Mercedes-Benz Vans.

The VAN.EA merchandise will deal with effectivity and efficiency in each facet of the automobile — together with aerodynamics, drivetrain, tires, and chassis. The aim is to realize a excessive vary with an optimum battery capability, which is instantly associated to automobile weight and prices.

An Electrical Van Platform With Three Components

Picture courtesy of Mercedes Benz Vans

The VAN.EA platform could have three distinct parts. The entrance portion incorporates the entrance axle and electrical powertrain, which will likely be an identical in all variants constructed on the platform, which is a part of the plan to deal with utilizing the identical elements as the idea for a number of fashions.

The central part can scale to accommodate the size of varied fashions and supply a spot to mount batteries of various sizes. The rear module supplies area for the rear axle and also will be standardized, with one exception. It may be fitted with a second electrical motor for patrons who need all-wheel drive functionality.

Variations On VAN.EA

The platform for personal luxurious will likely be generally known as VAN.EA-P and will likely be oriented towards prospects with the very best requirements. It will likely be appropriate for a VIP shuttle, an emissions-free cell workplace, or for lively households who need the last word in leisure journey. It would have a spread of greater than 500 km, which is right for vacationers. SAE Stage 2 automated driving is deliberate for market launch, whereas SAE Stage 3 is deliberate to be out there by the top of the last decade.

VAN.EA-C denotes the electrical van platform supposed for premium business vans within the midsize and enormous segments. Mercedes claims will probably be the perfect base for patrons who worth performance, vary, payload, and cargo area. With its modular and scalable design, the structure is tailor-made for various configurations, from final mile supply automobiles to ambulances to leisure automobiles, nearly every thing is conceivable. Mercedes plans to supply Stage 4 autonomy for business prospects who’re capable of function in geofenced areas by the top of this decade.

Mercedes is the gross sales chief in vans within the European market and sees the potential for substantial progress in the US for premium business giant vans which are primarily based on the VAN.EA structure. The corporate expects its new vans to cater to the expectations of its refined prospects extra strongly by providing a privately positioned midsize luxurious van in the US. It foresees annual gross sales progress of 6% to eight% yearly.

It additionally will develop its portfolio of RV vans ”constructed from manufacturing facility” with a brand new line of totally electrical midsize and enormous camper vans primarily based on VAN.EA chassis. The division goals to outline the brand new trade customary with its worldwide RV enterprise companions world wide.

Reconfiguring The Manufacturing Community

Starting in 2026, all midsize and enormous vans primarily based on the brand new modular structure will likely be electrical solely. Mercedes-Benz Vans is reorganizing its world manufacturing community, beginning with its first pure electrical mild business automobiles plant in Jawor, Poland. That manufacturing facility goals to set new requirements when it comes to productiveness, lean operations, and sustainability for the manufacturing of premium eLCVs worldwide.

All manufacturing websites for the VAN.EA primarily based giant vans will likely be web carbon impartial, as will all owned crops of Mercedes-Benz Vans. The corporate plans to cowl 100% of the power wants for its factories through the use of renewable power from photo voltaic panels and wind energy. Warmth pumps will likely be utilized for heating together with geothermal and photo voltaic thermal power. Throughout occasions of peak power utilization, a small quantity of biogas could also be utilized.

The massive cab chassis primarily based on VAN.EA will likely be in-built Düsseldorf, Germany. The manufacturing facility in Ludwigsfelde, Germany, which at this time produces Mercedes-Benz Sprinter and Mercedes-Benz eSprinter vans, will grow to be a competence heart for eVan customization, significantly leisure automobiles. As well as, Mercedes-Benz Vans will construct VAN.EA-based midsize vans in its plant in Vitoria, Spain.

In the present day, Mercedes-Benz Vans gives totally electrical variants in each phase, from small and midsize to giant vans. With VAN.EA, Mercedes-Benz Vans is implementing the following stage of its electrification technique. For you “van life” fans, the prospect of extra electrical fashions coming to market within the subsequent few years is a solution to your prayers. Mercedes expects to be a frontrunner in that market as soon as the brand new VAN.EA platform is in full manufacturing.