Mercedes-Benz eVito and EQV vans on the wish list for Australia

Mercedes-Benz is hopeful of selling electric versions of its Vito and V-Class vans in Australia, possibly as early as 2022.

Having just gone on sale in Europe, Mercedes-Benz Australia has its hands high in the air for the EV versions of the commercial vehicles currently sold in Australia with diesel engines.

The eVito and EQV are on the hit list for Mercedes-Benz locally, with early fleet interest prompting the company to ask its German parent for supply.

“We’ve had some larger national fleet customers who’ve enquired about it,” said Mercedes-Benz Vans Australia corporate communications manager. “We’re still talking to Germany about an Australian launch.

“We’re still definitely putting our hand up … we’ve got a customer base who’s right.”

Vincent said there was no indication of potential timing yet, something that was likely to push any local launch out until 2022 at the earliest.

“We haven’t got an indication of timing yet.”

The eVito van is powered by an 85kW/300Nm electric motor driving the front wheels and 35kWh lithium-ion battery pack with a claimed 148km WLTP range.

That relatively short range would clearly rule them out for many commercial applications, but there are many others – particularly those operating around choked Melbourne and Sydney streets – that it would suit perfectly.

The eVito is priced from about £50,000 in the UK – about the same as a GLC300 SUV – suggesting the electric vans would likely start at around $90,000 in Australia.

That would make them tens of thousands of dollars more expensive than the regular diesel-fed Vitos, which get a minor update early in 2021.

Vincent said it would suit businesses doing shorter delivery runs and that the total cost of ownership – with cheaper servicing and electricity cheaper than diesel per kilometre travelled – could be lower, making it appealing to fleets.

“There’s also the lower environmental impact, which is appealing for companies with their own sustainability goals and objectives … vehicles like that help them meet that objective.”

There’s also an eVito Tourer which adds seats and is available with a 150kW/362Nm motor and 90kWh battery for longer range.

Mercedes-Benz also sells the EQV overseas, part of the broader EQ electric and hybrid sub-brand that includes the EQC and upcoming EQS limousine.

With a more upmarket focus – it’s based on the V-Class – the EQV is significantly more expensive.

It also has a more powerful electric motor – 150kW and 362Nm – and larger 90kWh battery pack for a 363km WLTP range.