Mercedes-Benz Vans UK has introduced its first electric roadside assistance van, as part of a pilot project in London.
The eSprinter, based at the Marshall Van Croydon Dealership in south London, is kitted out in the same way as the diesel-engined roadside assistance vans and is now serving owners of Mercedes-Benz electric vans in the capital.
It is powered by a 114 hp electric motor that drives the front wheels, and its 55kW high-voltage battery pack is securely mounted beneath the body.
This means it does not impinge on the space needed in the cargo area to provide the technician with a practical workspace and to carry a full complement of equipment and parts.
The van will travel 95 miles on a single charge, which is ample for most urban delivery and last mile applications, as well as the majority of roadside call-outs attended by Marshall Van and other members of the Mercedes-Benz Vans network.
Mercedes-Benz technicians attend callouts in vans equipped for a wide range of tasks and stocked with Mercedes-Benz GenuineParts. The average response time is 66 minutes, with 87% of vans fixed at the roadside.
Simon Neill, Customer Operations Director, Mercedes-Benz Vans UK, said, “We’re really pleased to have added the first electric roadside assistance vehicle to the fleet of around 180 Service24h vans operating nationwide.
“It’s important to demonstrate to customers for our eSprinter and eVito models that we can fully support them with an electric van. The vision, on completion of this pilot, is to introduce more eSprinters to the fleet nationally where appropriate.
“We’re also planning, later this year, to set our first eSprinter based mobile servicing unit on the road.”
