Mercedes-Benz EQV: Meet the all-electric premium van-based MPV
Wed, 21 Aug 2019
Mercedes-Benz has officially unveiled the all-electric EQV. The van-based luxury MPV will go on sale in late-2020 and be capable of covering 252 miles on a single charge.
Mercedes-Benz hasn't finalised any pricing details, but the EQV is expected to start in the region of £60,000 and be powered by a front-mounted 150kw electric motor and 90kWh battery pack located under the passenger floor.
Designed for airport shuttle firms and taxi operators, the EQV is exempt from urban pollution charging zones - like London's ULEZ - and features a fast charge function that allows the lithium-ion battery pack to be boosted from 10 to 80 per cent in 45 minutes when plugged into a 110kW DC rapid charger. A full charge from zero, from a home wallbox or public charging station, however, takes 10 hours.
The model line-up mirrors the V-Class and consists of eight, seven and six-seater variants, with the latter getting seats that can be individually configured. This means operators can have all six seats facing forwards, or inwards for passengers who prefer to chat face-to-face as they travel.
The promotional images show a full leather interior and car-like dashboard with a 10-inch HD screen at the centre. The infotainment screen, Mercedes-Benz say, make it easy to see vehicle’s battery status and energy flow. It will also show battery range and the rate of energy regeneration via the braking system.
The driver can set the energy recuperation level using paddles behind the steering wheel. The paddle on the left, for example, increases regeneration while the paddle on the right reduces it. The system also has an automatic E+ driving mode, which optimises the parameters to maximise the range.
The EQV gets the latest Mercedes-Benz User Experience (MBUX) infotainment system, which features a voice operation that lets the driver set the navigation or make a phone call by saying “Hey Mercedes, call the office”. The navigation system can also automatically factor in the battery level and reroute to a charger if the vehicle has insufficient range to complete the journey.
The EQV will join the all-electric eVito and eSprinter in the UK when it goes on sale in 2020. It will mostly most likely command a £10,000 premium over the standard diesel-powered V-Class. More details will be revealed when the Mercedes-Benz EQV makes its public debut at the Frankfurt Motor Show in September.
