Danish postal service selects electric Mercedes vans

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Mercedes has secured its largest ever fleet order for its Vito E-Cell electric van, with a delivery of 50 new battery-powered vans lined up for deliver to the Danish postal service, Post Danmark.

Denmark was one of just seven markets in Europe chosen by the automaker to test its Vito E-Cell model in the early days of its production. Since then, the model, based on the Vito combustion-powered van, has expanded to fifteen European markets.

Post Danmark was one of the first firms to trial the electric model for Mercedes in 2011, with a small test fleet of three vehicles operated on the island of Bornholm. That was enough to persuade the postal service that the battery models that the electric vans made a sensible choice for their operations, won over by low running costs, driveability and load capacity.

“We are delighted about this major order from Scandinavia. The successful conclusion of the contract with Post Danmark underscores just how ably our Vito E-CELL has demonstrated its worth in this large-scale operation in Denmark over the past months” said Klaus Maier, Head of Sales and Marketing, Mercedes-Benz Vans.

“The field test with the E-CELL Panel Van on the island of Bornholm ran to the full satisfaction of our customer, so the Danish postal services will now use these vehicles on a widespread basis. Without such ambitious enterprises, it would be very hard to make our vision of emission-free mobility become a reality”, added Markus Denzler, Managing Director, Commercial Vehicles, Mercedes-Benz Denmark and Sweden.

The Vito E-Cell electric motors deliver 60kW to the front wheels, delivering torque of 280Nm and a top speed of 55mph. The model’s 36kWh lithium ion battery deliver a driving range of 80 miles and are located beneath the load compartment floor, to ensure that the load compartment itself is un-intruded. Payload for the vehicle is a maximum of 850kg.

The batteries of the Vito E-CELL are recharged in a maximum of five hours from a 380/400V mains connection. There is also brake energy recovery to help feed the battery during the journeys.