It features a 75 kW electric drive system and a range of up to 270 km
Unless Mercedes-Benz has more surprises in store for us, the electric vehicle the company has promised for the Paris Motor Show is this van.
Called the Vision Van, it packs the automaker's latest all-electric powertrain and that's what matters the most about this vehicle because the drive system is likely to be used by future production models as well.
Described as a "revolutionary van study for the urban environment," the vehicle features a fully automated cargo space, integrated drones for autonomous air deliveries and a joystick control. Its electric drive allows it to operate in inner-city zones which have already started to become off-limits for vehicles with internal combustion engines in some parts of the world.
The Vision Van has a 75 kW (101 hp) electric drive system which includes a modular battery system that allows a driving range from 80 km (50 miles) up to 270 km (168 miles). For short 60-second periods, the motor's output increases to 150 kW (202 hp), while peak torque remains constant at 270 Nm (199 hp).
While the vehicle can reach a theoretical top speed of 120 km/h (75 mph), it is limited to 80 km/h (50 mph). The Vision Van features all standard charging options: inductive charging and cable-based AC and DC charging.
The study's futuristic design also gives us a taste of what's to come from Mercedes-Benz Vans in the future. The front end boasts a very wide windscreen, which curves around to the sidewalls, a Black Panel radiator grille with integrated LED matrix as well as sleek LED headlights. The rest of the vehicle features smooth surfaces, including at the rear where a trapezoidal band plays the role of the taillights.
The vehicle communicates with its surroundings via LED displays on the front and rear. For example, warnings appear when the delivery drones take off, when the van stops or when the deliverer alights.
Inside, the most striking feature is the lack of a steering wheel, pedals, and center console. That's because the Vision Van adopts drive-by-wire control through a joystick, resulting in a unique interior focused on intelligent communication between driver and vehicle.
The electric van also communicates with the driver via the cabin floor. LED indicators shine in the stainless steel floor, signaling to the driver whether pedestrians or cyclists are approaching.