Competition in electric commercial vehicles is heating up.
Rivian and Ford, among others, have already introduced their versions.
Fully-electric commercial vehicles will be big business in the near future as fleet and logistic companies will look to purchase new vehicles in the near future as they will soon face CO2 targets. Already, GM, Ford, and Rivian have announced plans to manufacture electric vans for commercial applications, and now, it looks as though Mercedes-Benz will enter the fold with their electric eSprinter.
2022 Ford E-Transit electric van | Ford
The commercial van segment is only beginning to grow in North America but before long, it’s expected to become huge. According to Automotive News (subscription required), the number of commercial EVs will reach about 623,000 units by 2030 from the 56,000 vehicles this year.
Mercedes-Benz launched their eVito and eSprinter this year and contrary to initial indications, it seems as though Benz will bring the larger eSprinter to the US, with one important difference. In Europe, the eSprinter will feature a larger 55 kWh battery which will provide 168 km of range (WLTP). For the US, the battery may grow as large as 120 kWh for considerably more range.
Amazon Orders 1,800 Electric Delivery Vans From Mercedes-Benz
One major reason why automakers want in on this segment is money. Traditionally, commercial vehicles carry considerably larger profit margins. Ford and GM currently own the petrol- and diesel-powered category with a 70+% market share.
Amazon’s Rivian delivery van | Photo: Amazon
