Mercedes-Benz has fully revealed its new all-electric VLE, the first vehicle to be built on the brand’s newly developed modular, flexible and scalable Van Architecture (VAN.EA).
This platform will be the underpinnings to all of Mercedes-Benz’s commercial electric vehicles.
The new VLE 300 electric houses a 115 kWh nickel-manganese-cobalt battery with 800-volt technology. This translates to a claimed range of up to 700km and a 300kW DC charging speed.
Mercedes-Benz quotes a combined energy consumption of 20.4-18.6 kWh/100 km and a drag coefficient of just 0.25.
The new VLE comes with Airmatic air suspension with 40 mm of level control and seven-degree rear-axle steering, offering a small curb-to-curb turning circle of just 10.9 metres.
An optional feature for the new VLE is the brand’s MB.Drive Assist, which adds semi-autonomous steering on motorways and a lane change assist.
There are three rows of seating to accommodate up to eight people, depending on configuration. With all seats in use or in place, cargo space is 795-litres rising to a possible 4,078 litres with the seats removed. The VLE also has 2.5-tonne towing capacity.
Hidden in the headliner above the front seats is a retractable, 31.3‑inch panoramic screen with 8K resolution, split-screen function and an eight-megapixel camera.
Three screens behind a large glass surface: a 10.25‑inch driver display, a 14‑inch central display, and a 14‑inch screen for the front passenger.
Over-the-air updates keep the VLE up to date, adding new features without the customer ever having to visit a dealer.
The new Mercedes-Benz VLE will go on sale later this year.
