Mercedes-Benz to Build Electric Van Prototype and Help Develop EV Taxi in U.K.
By Scott Doggett February 9, 2010In brief:
- Mercedes unveils all-electric version of its Vito van in Spain
- EV has a claimed 80-mile range per charge, 50-mph top speed
- Mercedes, Eco City lead group developing all-electric taxis for London
By Danny King, Contributor
Mercedes-Benz has built a prototype of an all-electric version of its Vito van (pictured) and will help build an electric-vehicle prototype - also based on the Vito - of a London taxicab, marking the world's largest truckmaker's attempt to broaden van sales by selling battery EVs to commercial and municipal customers.
The Daimler AG unit this week is unveiling the lithium-ion battery-powered van for European regulators at the EU Competitiveness Council meeting in San Sebastian, Spain, Mercedes-Benz said in a statement today. The company plans to deliver more than 100 electric vans to fleet operators this year and another 2,000 vehicles in its next development phase.
Additionally, Mercedes will work with U.K.-based vehicle distributor Eco City Vehicles, manufacturer Penso, electric engine maker Zytec Automotive and rear-wheel steering system developer One80 Ltd. at building a Vito-based prototype for a London taxi.
The so-called eVito prototype, which will have a single-charge range of about 75 miles of typical taxi driving, will undergo London road testing later this year, Eco City said in a separate statement Monday.
"The eVito is the first all-electric wheelchair accessible taxi with a 25-foot turning circle to be launched in the world and a major step towards our goal to become a leading supplier of niche eco-friendly vehicles," said Peter DaCosta, chief executive officer of Eco City Vehicles, in Monday's statement.
Daimler AG, which releases fourth-quarter earnings next week, is looking to boost revenue for a van division that had slumping third-quarter sales largely as a result of a drop in demand from the U.K. and Western Europe. Mercedes-Benz Vans' third-quarter revenue dropped 33 percent from a year earlier on a 45 percent decline in unit sales, Daimler said in October.
Eco City, which started selling a diesel-powered version of the Vito taxis in June 2008, says the vehicle accounts for about a third of new "black cab" sales in London. Because of its rear-wheel steering mechanism, the Vito meets London standards of a 25-foot maximum turning radius.
The Vito van being unveiled in Spain this week can go about 80 miles on a single charge and has a top speed of about 50 miles per hour, according to its maker. Daimler, which didn't say how much it will cost, will make the vehicle in Spain's Basque region and will receive subsidies from German regulators.
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