The Ford E-Transit won’t be lonely for long. Mercedes-Benz has announced will bring the all-electric version of its Sprinter van, the eSprinter, to the U.S. market in 2023.
With Americans ordering more of their purchases delivered during the COVID-19 pandemic than before, many companies are looking for a less expensive way to complete the “last mile” of home delivery. That has spurred a new interest in electric vans, even though, to date, they lack the range of passenger EVs.
The eSprinter currently available in Europe, for instance, has a range of less than 100 miles on a charge. We wouldn’t be surprised to see that number improved considerably by the time the van comes here. The existing battery is good for just 55 kWh, and the platform has room for something more than twice its size. Pricing is not yet clear.
In the meantime, the electric version of Ford’s Transit van will have the market to itself. With a range of 126 miles and an onboard generator for powering tools in the field, it remains a plausible option for most buyers looking for a work vehicle that saves money on fuel. We have yet to see an all-electric option for the smaller Ford Transit Connect.
