Mercedes has been undertaking extreme cold-weather testing of its new eSprinter van ahead of the vehicle’s launch. Using testing grounds surrounding Arjeplog in Sweden, close to the Arctic Circle, Mercedes assessed the van’s handling, ergonomics, thermal management and cabin comfort. Track testing was augmented by climatic chambers to stress drive components, heating systems, software and interfaces before test drives. The charging behavior and charging management were also studied.
When it goes on sale, the new eSprinter family will include three battery versions and numerous body variants – from the panel van to the chassis for box bodies – with the company hoping to open up new markets in the US and Canada. Compared with the current eSprinter, the range of the new vehicles is claimed to be more than double, depending on the configuration.
Production of the next-generation eSprinter is set to start in the second half of 2023 in Charleston (South Carolina, USA) and then in Düsseldorf and Ludwigsfelde, Germany.