New Mercedes VLE offers exquisite luxury without an exhaust

Mercedes has given us a new, official look at its upcoming VLE - an all-electric van that’s set to be the first of a series of vehicles to use the firm’s all-important VAN.EA platform. 

Moving to a new era of all-electric vans, the VLE will essentially be the mid-size model akin to an E-Class (hence the ‘E’ part of the name) with seating for up to eight people. Above it will sit the VLS van which Mercedes calls a ‘grand limousine’ and says will ‘define a unique segment of its own that bestows true greatness to automotive luxury’. 

Those are some strong words from the German car maker, and to back them up it’s revealed the results of long-distance tests of the VLE. The company hasn’t said what the VLE’s battery capacity will be, although sizes of up to 116kWh have been used in other Mercedes EVs. The VLE test car’s route went from Stuttgart to Rome, covering 683 miles, requiring ‘two short charging stops’ of 15 minutes each. That suggests a maximum range of around 250 to 300 miles – a significant improvement on the current EQV’s range of 226 miles. 

We already know the VAN.EA platform will have a bespoke construction that’s designed to get the most out of an all-electric platform. This includes a range of cutting-edge technical capability drawn from Merc’s advances in passenger electric cars, including an 800V electrical system – which could allow for up to 320kW fast charging – as well as high-end suspension and chassis technology. 

The new architecture will offer a single-motor layout, plus a dual-motor option with all-wheel drive. The test car was a rear-wheel-drive, single-motor VLE and, according to Mercedes, additional rear-axle steering ensured ‘easy and agile handling even in tight corners’ on the streets of Rome. The combination of two drivetrains will give the brand maximum flexibility when it comes to different applications and requirements.

Mercedes previously said the VAN.EA technology will allow for ‘clear differentiation’ between luxury vans and commercial models. The VAN.EA-P platform (the P standing for ‘premium’) is designed to cater for ‘high-quality family vans’ and everything from ‘exclusive VIP shuttles to spacious limousines’, according to the company. Commercial vans will use the VAN.EA-C set-up – with the C standing for ‘commercial’.

The VLE’s design will borrow elements from the Vision V Concept that was unveiled in April this year. That should mean a fresh iteration of Mercedes’ panamerica grille (despite it being blanked off for aerodynamic reasons), a full-width headlight, clean surfacing throughout the body and an eye-catching, wraparound rear light signature. 

The line-up of all-electric vans sitting on this new architecture will have Mercedes’ upcoming MB.OS infotainment system, and the company says the premium models will be ‘always on’, meaning they are connected to the internet at all times and able to receive updates. Level 2 automated driving will be available, and there are plans to roll out Level 3 automation by the end of the decade.

We’ve only seen a few prototypes running the new set-up under the skin, but when it does arrive on the market, Mercedes will be able to offer more specialised products for all sorts of applications, whether it be as a family car in Europe or high-end business transport in Tokyo, which will rival the growing market for high-end haulers right across the globe. 

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