DPD Germany is putting five eco-friendly, electrical battery-powered vehicles into operationthis year to be tested in daily use in the metropolitan area of Stuttgart, southern Germany.
Manufactured by Mercedes-Benz, the Vito E-CELL van is the world’s first ex-factorybattery-powered transporter which is perfectly suitable for inner-city delivery thanks to itsinnovative, emission-free drive system.
The on-road test of the five Mercedes-Benz Vito E-CELL vehicles is fixed for a period of fouryears and approximately 80,000 km per vehicle, after which the electrically-powered vans will bereturned to Mercedes-Benz. During these four years, consumption and cruising range will becontinually measured and monitored. In addition, further useful information will be collectedproviding a unique knowledge base for further developing electric drive mechanisms in light utilityvehicles. In addition to the purely technical aspects, special focus will also be on theexperiences and opinions of DPD’s customers.
The basic model for the Vito E-CELL is the long Mercedes-Benz Vito with a normal roof. The longwheelbase of 3200 mm provides the necessary space for the batteries under the vehicle’s floor. Witha permitted gross vehicle weight of 3050 kg, the Vito E-CELL places no restrictions in terms of itsload space or on its payload of approx. 900 kg. One reason for the van’s considerable transportcapacity is the relatively compact and low-weight lithium-ion battery with its high energy densitycompared to conventional batteries. The other reason is the consequent integration of the electricdrive system in the shell construction.
With a cruising range of around 130 km, the Vito E-CELL meets the average customer drivingrequirements related to a transporter with a mileage of 50 – 80 km a day while still offeringgenerous reserve capacity. The driving performance of the first van to feature a factory-fittedelectric drive mechanism is in line with customer requirements. Its maximum speed of 80 km/h isdesigned for transport operations both within urban areas and for short driving distances outsideof the city.
In terms of safety, the Vito E-CELL has the same exemplary safety equipment found in every Vitowith an internal combustion engine. It is also equipped with a fully-fledged electronic stabilityprogramme (ESP) with all the usual functions and with a standard type and number of airbags.
“As a leading service provider in the transport and logistics industry, DPD is very much awareof its responsibilities with regard to the environment”, explained Dr. Armin Bohnhoff, Director ofTechnology and Operations at DPD GeoPost (Germany). “For parcel service operators, alternativedrive systems could be the key to more sustainable operations. We are confident that operating theMercedes-Benz Vito E-CELL will enable us to collect positive and groundbreaking experience forinner-city deliveries, which we will be happy to share with the vehicle’s manufacturer”, Bohnhoffadded.
“With the Vito E-CELL, Mercedes-Benz has highlighted its technological leadership comingconsiderably closer to the target of emissions-free driving. The Vito E-CELL project receivespublic support from a number of sources, with financial subsidies provided by the Germangovernment’s second economic stimulus package,” DPD said in a statement.
