A world first from Mercedes-Benz Vans: the Vito E-CELL crewbus is the first seven-seater vehicle worldwide to offer local emission-free mobility ex-factory as standard. With its range of around 130 km it is ideal for use in environmentally sensitive areas, such as pedestrian zones, city centres or health resorts. The range of 130 km is optimised for deployment on short routes involving numerous stops.
Diverse range of applications in local emission-free passenger transport
The Mercedes-Benz Vito E-CELL crewbus lends itself to a broad scope of applications: in particular, for the first time ever it offers companies a local emission-free and also highly comfortable means of organising the short-range transportation of passengers on shuttle services or internal company transport services. Apart from restaurants and hotels in downtown locations with restricted access, the Vito E-CELL crewbus is also a highly interesting proposition for deployment in conservation areas and nature reserves. It is equally ideal for works transport at large companies or for deployment at airports and seaports.
Showcasing state-of-the-art drive technology: transparent model of the Mercedes-Benz Vito E-CELL at the Geneva Motor Show
For the first time ever, the transparent model of the Mercedes-Benz Vito E-CELL provides a vivid demonstration of how electric mobility works. Mercedes-Benz is offering clear insights in Geneva into the Vito E-CELL's mode of functioning: from chargers through voltage transformers, high-voltage control units and the battery to the electric motor. The model employs high-performance LEDs to visualise the flow of current from the battery via the control electronics to the drive shafts.
The technical concept behind the Vito E-CELL crewbus
The electric motor (60 kW; max. torque 280 Nm), power electronics, transformer and AC/DC charger are accommodated under the bonnet. The generated power is transmitted to the front wheels. The powerful and robust lithium-ion traction batteries are accommodated under the passenger compartment floor. The nominal voltage stands at 360 V, with a capacity of 36 kWh. The speed is electronically limited to 89 km/h in the interests of a range of 130 km (New European Driving Cycle, NEDC). The Vito E-CELL crewbus is well able to hold its own in city traffic with the available battery power. Acceleration from 0 to 50/80 km/h in 6.5/11 seconds ensures that it is a swift mover at all times.
The Vito E-CELL's batteries are charged from the 380/400 V grid in a maximum of five hours. Charging from the 230 V grid is subsequently possible as necessary. The battery additionally stores recuperated power while the vehicle is in motion.
The Vito E-CELL does not compromise on safety: ESP and driver's airbag come as standard and a safety belt is integrated in each seat. The batteries are protected by a crash element. In the event of airbag activation, the high-voltage technology will be shut down automatically. The Vito E-CELL has demonstrated its high safety standard in an impressive manner in crash tests.
Clocking up 650,000 km, a weath of positive experience and numerous awards
After its first year in service with customers, the Vito E-CELL has proven its credentials as an ideal vehicle for urban traffic. In all, 230 Vito E-CELL vans are now on the road as part of the promotion schemes currently in operation in Germany. Together, they have so far successfully covered around 650,000 km/h.
The Mercedes-Benz Vito E-CELL has won a host of awards from independent juries. Among its titles is "Green Commercial of the Year". In 2011 the Vito E-CELL won the "Alternative Drives" innovation award in the "KEP-Transporter des Jahres" competition for courier, express and parcel delivery vans, the "Umwelttechnikpreis Baden-Württemberg" for environmental engineering and technology and the Design Award at the Michelin "Challenge Bibendum", one of the largest forums worldwide on sustainable mobility.
Credits: Daimler AG
Copyright © 2012, Mercedes-Benz-Blog. All rights reserved.
Mercedes-Benz Vans finished 2011 by setting records for earnings and return on sales in the most successful year overall in the division’s history. EBIT rose 85% to the record level of €835 million (2010: €451 million), while the return on sales increased to 9.1% (2010: 5.8%), also a record. Revenues for 2011 totaled €9.179 billion, a 17% increase compared to the prior year. High global demand for vans resulted in an 18% increase in Mercedes-Benz Vans sales to around 264,200 units, with sales records set in the division’s core markets in particular. Mercedes-Benz Vans also remains the clear leader for medium-sized and large vans in Europe, its most important sales market. The division sold 178,300 units (+14%) in Western Europe and posted unit sales of 77,600 vans (+25%) in its German home market - the best sales result ever for Germany.
Volker Mornhinweg, Head of Mercedes-Benz Vans, commented today in Stuttgart on Mercedes-Benz Vans’ business development as follows: “2011 was an outstanding year for Mercedes-Benz Vans. The records we set for earnings and return on sales have extended our lead in the van segment even further. This makes Mercedes-Benz Vans a true engine of growth for the Daimler Group.”
“Mercedes-Benz Vans Goes Global” growth strategy: product offensive in Europe, model changeover in Latin America, and two-brand strategy in North America
Daimler’s Vans division plans to continue last year’s positive developments in 2012 and 2013 by achieving further increases in unit sales, revenues, and earnings. The foundation for future success has been laid by the strategic approach employed at Mercedes-Benz Vans, which focuses on three areas: exploitation of all growth potential in traditional markets, penetration into new fast-growing markets, and technology leadership in combination with an attractive product portfolio.
“In addition, our Mercedes-Benz Vans Goes Global growth strategy is accelerating our business development not only in Europe but also in the U.S., Latin America, China, and Russia. Our goal now is to achieve annual global unit sales of more than 400,000 vans by 2015,” said Volker Mornhinweg.
Daimler’s Vans division plans to expand its lead in Europe by entering the rapidly growing segment for small vans. The division’s all-new Mercedes-Benz Citan will round out the product portfolio here before the year is over. The Citan is designed for commercial customers and will initially be offered in different lengths and weight classes. This new city delivery van will be launched in the fall of 2012 to coincide with the IAA Commercial Vehicles Show. The Citan also happens to be the first vehicle to hit the road as a result of the strategic partnership between Daimler and Renault-Nissan.
“The trend toward small vans for use in flexible and versatile urban logistics systems offers our division a huge opportunity,” said Mornhinweg. “The market volume for such vans in Europe alone now stands at approximately 700,000 units per year, and that number will rise. Our new Citan was designed to help us achieve a market share of 4% to 5% precisely in this segment and to fully exploit all the available growth potential.”
Mercedes-Benz Vans has had a strong presence on the Latin American market for decades and is the leading premium manufacturer in the region. The division sold 13,600 units in Latin America in 2011, an increase of 9% compared to the prior year. At the end of last year, Mercedes-Benz Vans shifted the production operations at the Centro Industrial Juan Manuel Fangio plant in Argentina (near Buenos Aires) to the current European Sprinter series and raised the manufacturing capacity accordingly. The Sprinter is offered mainly as a bus variant in Latin America in order to benefit from the rapidly rising demand for passenger transport vehicles. Mercedes-Benz has also now begun manufacturing in Argentina the OM 651 diesel engine, which is already available in Europe. These projects had a total investment volume of more than €70 million. Mercedes-Benz Vans’ clear goal at the moment is to increase van sales by more than 30% in Latin America over the next five years.
Mercedes-Benz Vans also remains on course for success in North America, where it is systematically forging ahead with its two-brand strategy for the Sprinter. The model is offered to American and Canadian customers under either the Mercedes-Benz or the Freightliner brand name. The favorable market conditions in the region and the establishment of a new Mercedes-Benz sales organization led to a 72% increase in unit sales in the U.S. alone in 2011, to 18,000 vans. In view of this development, Mercedes-Benz Vans has increased the production volume for the Sprinter at its plant in Charleston, South Carolina.
“Mercedes-Benz Vans Goes Global” growth strategy: Launch of third model series in China Mercedes-Benz Vans places a high priority on its successful entry and penetration into the growth market China. These activities are firmly incorporated into the division’s “Mercedes-Benz Vans Goes Global” strategy.
Mercedes-Benz Vans is the only manufacturer to date that produces vans locally in China. The vans with the star have been built by a joint venture in China since 2010. On March 1, 2012, the van joint venture with Fujian Motors was given a new name: Fujian Benz Automotive Corporation. The Vito and Viano models are manufactured at the Fuzhou plant, where a bus version of the Sprinter also went into production in October 2011. Mercedes-Benz Vans is targeting the high-end passenger transport and exclusive shuttle services segments in China. Despite a slightly contracting market, Daimler’s Vans division increased its sales in China by 11% to 13,500 units in 2011. The division’s dealership network has also been expanded to 50 sales partners.
Investment in products and innovations
Mercedes-Benz Vans invests extensively in new products and technologies and therefore has a very young product range. The division increased its research and development expenditure by 34% to €358 million in 2011 (2010: €267 million), and Mercedes-Benz Vans plans to continue on this course.
On the product side, Mercedes-Benz Vans launched the new generation of the Vito and the Viano across all markets last year. The models were very well received by customers and dealers. Mercedes-Benz Vans is focusing on specific customer requirements with these new-generation model series by clearly distinguishing between the Viano for private usage and the Vito for commercial applications.
Last year Mercedes-Benz Vans celebrated the 125th anniversary of the invention of the automobile by presenting the Viano “Avantgarde Edition 125” - a special model with a V6 engine and high-end interior appointments. In addition, the division showed what is possible in the premium van segment by unveiling its “Viano Vision Pearl” show car at the IAA International Motor Show in Frankfurt. Mercedes-Benz Vans also introduced the Vito Crew and the Vito Shuttle for commercial customers last year. The Vito Crew provides service companies and commercial customers in various technical trades with a robust van, while the Vito Shuttle is targeted at customers who use vans for the professional transportation of passengers as hotel shuttles or minivan taxis.
Last year the division posted sales of 98,000 vans in the medium-sized segment (to which the Vito and the Viano belong), an increase of 26% compared to the prior year. The Viano also set a new record by increasing sales by 40% to 30,500 units.
Mercedes-Benz Vans remains the leader for new and environmentally friendly van technologies with the Vito E-CELL - the world’s first series-produced electric van. Thanks to its locally zero-emission drive system, the Vito E-CELL is ideal for use in inner cities and areas with very sensitive environments. More than 500 Vito E-CELL models have now been manufactured and delivered to European customers for testing under everyday conditions. A total of 230 Vito E-CELLs have already clocked up more than 650,000 kilometers in several model regions in Germany. Plans call for 2,000 Vito E-CELLs to be delivered throughout Europe by the end of 2012.
Credits: Daimler AG
Copyright © 2012, Mercedes-Benz-Blog. All rights reserved.
Quiet, emissions-free and practical – 100 battery-driven electric Mercedes-Benz Vito E-CELL vans have proven their worth in customer use in Berlin and Stuttgart. The world’s first van fitted with an electric drive system ex factory has been taking to the roads in the German capital since autumn 2010, and in Stuttgart since the beginning of 2011. The two projects, each with 50 Vito E-CELLs, are intended to run over a period of four years. The final reports scheduled for the end of the promotional period indicate a positive result: the Vito E-CELL is ideally suited to use on inner-city routes. The vehicle has made the vision of emissions-free driving in commercial traffic a reality. A total of 230 Vito E-CELL vans are now in use in several model regions.
Automotive industry, commercial enterprises, energy suppliers and policy makers in successful collaboration
The projects serve to demonstrate how the automotive industry, together with commercial enterprises, energy suppliers and policy makers, can work together to provide crucial impetus to advance electric mobility in Germany. The German Federal Ministry for the Environment and Nature Conservation is lending its support to the Electrification of Mercedes-Benz Small Vans in Development and Production project (EMKEP) in Berlin. In Stuttgart, the Integrated Concept for Sustainable Electric Mobility project (IKONE) is being funded by the German Federal Ministry of Transport, Building and Urban Development. The two promotional initiatives are part of the German federal government’s second economic stimulus package.
Intelligent charging technology utilises green electricity
Mercedes-Benz and energy suppliers Vattenfall (Berlin) and EnBW (Stuttgart) have begun the implementation of new technologies in vehicles and their charging systems at both locations. The energy suppliers, for instance, have now provided charging stations to operators at their depots. The batteries of Vito E-CELL vans are recharged at these locations outside of operating hours.
Intelligent charging technology is used, based on the Smart Charge Communication Unit (SCCU) in the Vito E-CELL. The technology optimises the CO2 balance of the vans with certified green electricity, or even surplus wind energy (“Wind-to-Vehicle/W2V”). The charging technology can also be programmed to lower electricity tariffs to impact operating costs favourably. Where operators use several Vito E-CELL vans, the charging procedures are graded through a process of local charge management (LLM, in German: Lokales Lastmanagement) to ensure that the grid capacity is not overextended.
Highly diverse areas of application
Mercedes-Benz delivered the first vehicles for field testing to testing partners in Berlin at the beginning of September 2010, and in Stuttgart in January 2011. The areas of application are highly diverse: courier, express and package service providers (KEP, in German: Kurier-, Express- und Paketdienstleister), plant transportation in large corporations, service vehicles for plant maintenance, customer service, and assembly and internal transport within companies. The varied topography was a key factor in the selection of the regions. In contrast to the largely flat terrain of the greater Berlin area, the differences in elevation within the Stuttgart metropolitan area are as much as 350 meters, which presents a real stamina test for the range, recuperation performance and drive properties of the Vito E-CELL.
All-round positive assessment of Vito E-CELL van in daily use by customers and drivers
In both regions, the drivers’ assessment of the Vito E-CELL has been highly positive. Characteristics of drive performance, tractive force, steady acceleration without shifting gears and continuous braking were all rated favourably. Drivers also praised the quiet running. The sole drawback of a quiet drive system is that other road users do not always hear the van approaching; according to driver opinion, this necessitates increased attentiveness and an especially anticipatory driving style.
Range typically not exploited to the full
Initial concerns regarding a too limited range were not substantiated in practice. The vehicles proved capable of covering at least 80 km on a full battery charge, including in winter, which in most cases is a sufficient range. Specifically, this concerns KEP applications with fixed routes, trade companies, supply and municipal companies, and general use within the inner-city environment and within corporate facilities. In a survey conducted during testing in Stuttgart, for example, drivers rated the range of the Vito E-CELL as either good or satisfactory. The fact that the challenging topography of the region fails to limit the on-the-road capabilities of the Vito E-CELL was one of the key findings in field testing.
The charge level of the batteries is a key indicator of range. In Berlin, for instance, this typically fluctuated between 95 and 25 percent of available capacity. This indicates that the maximum range of the Vito E-CELL is seldom fully utilised. Comparatively short charging times of between one and three hours are thus the norm in both regions.
Top speed sufficient, drivers highly motivated
The speed of the Vito E-CELL is electronically limited to 89 km/h to preserve a maximum range. This allows the vans to be driven with ease within the flow of truck traffic on occasional trips on the autobahn. Often, the maximum speed is not reached: in Berlin, for instance, only 30 percent of electric vans were reported to reach top speed on a daily basis. Analyses revealed that, in most cases, the speed of the Vito E-CELL did not exceed 55 km/h in both cities. Speeds were largely in the 15 to 30 km/h range.
Technical design of the Vito E-CELL
The Vito E-CELL is based on the mid-length Vito panel van. With a load capacity of up to 900 kg and an unmodified usable load compartment, the Vito E-CELL is suitable for commercial applications without any restrictions. The bodywork as such remains unaffected.
The electric engine, power electronics, converter and AC/DC charger are housed beneath the bonnet. The electric engine develops 60 kW, with a peak torque of 280 Nm. The power is transferred to the front wheels. The high-performance and durable lithium-ion traction batteries are located beneath the load compartment floor. The nominal voltage is 360 V, with a capacity of 36 kWh.
The maximum speed is limited to 89 km/h to maximise the range, which according to NEDC is around 130 km. This enables the Vito E-CELL to keep pace with the flow of truck traffic on the autobahn. The vehicle accelerates quickly from 0 to 50/80 km/h in just 6.5/11 seconds.
Power supply is via charging stations at fleet depots. The batteries of the Vito E-CELL are charged at a mains voltage of 380/400 V, a process that takes a maximum of six hours. Later, charging will also be possible at a mains voltage of 230 V. Furthermore, the batteries are also charged while the vehicle is under way, through recuperation, in which brake energy is converted into power. Back-up for the Vito E-CELL during the two field tests was provided by the local subsidiaries. Like all Mercedes-Benz vehicles, the Vito E-CELL is also fully integrated into the Star Diagnosis diagnostics system.
Fully fledged safety features, successful crash tests
In contrast to other electric vehicles, the Vito E-CELL is equipped with fully fledged safety features, including ESP. Additionally, the batteries themselves are protected by a crash element. If the airbag is triggered, the high-voltage technology is disabled automatically. The Vito E-CELL has impressively demonstrated its high safety standards in crash tests.
Numerous awards for the Vito E-CELL
The Mercedes-Benz Vito E-CELL has been awarded numerous distinctions by many independent panels, including the “Postal Technology International Award 2010” and “Green Commercial Vehicle of the Year” award. In 2011, the Vito E-CELL was awarded the “Alternative Drive Systems” innovation prize in the “KEP Van of the Year” event, the “Baden-Württemberg Environmental Technology Prize” and the Design Award at the Michelin “Challenge Bibendum”, one of the world’s largest forums for sustainable mobility.
400 Vito E-CELL vans in 2011, further model variants
The greatest distinction achieved by the Mercedes-Benz Vito E-CELL is the demand for the vehicle among customers. In 2011, Mercedes-Benz manufactured some 400 Vito E-CELL vans in its Vitoria plant in the Basque region in Spain. There, the Vito E-CELL is manufactured on the same assembly lines as all other Vito vans. This professional standard of manufacturing is a crucial factor for acceptance among commercial customers.
Mercedes-Benz Vans has produced a series of 2000 E-CELL vehicles since 2011. The popularity of the electrically driven van is set to receive a further boost with additional model variants for even greater practice- and customer-oriented purposes. Since the Vito E-CELL has an EU type approval, no monitoring organisation assessment is required for licensing within the EU, and special directives for high-voltage technology are also not applicable.
Meanwhile, field testing continues in Berlin and Stuttgart. The vehicles are designed for four years of use, with a distance of up to 80,000 km per vehicle. Owing to the high levels of demand and acceptance experienced, it proved possible as early as the testing phase to deploy additional vehicles in other model regions of Germany. A total of 230 Vito E-CELL vans have taken to the road as part of the promotional initiatives, with a distance of approximately 650,000 km covered to date. Meanwhile, Mercedes-Benz is preparing to deploy the Vito in other regions of Germany, and in most western European countries as well.
Credits: Daimler AG
Copyright © 2012, Mercedes-Benz-Blog. All rights reserved.
