- Mercedes-Benz says next VLE will offer ‘class-leading’ range of electric vehicles
- Huge battery equates to an impressive 435 miles of range on a single charge
- Modular interior with capacity for eight people.
Mercedes-Benz has unveiled the vehicle that will replace its current EQV model and take its range of stylish premium V-Class vans to the next level, with a wide selection of electric powertrains promised from launch.
The VLE will be the first model to ride on the German brand’s new VAN.EA platform, which will form the basis of several electric vans and commercial vehicles. It also promises an impressive 268 hp and a range of over 435 miles in the debut VLE 300.
This luxurious people mover will feature a frankly massive 115 kWh nickel-manganese-cobalt battery, while an 800V electric architecture will enable ultra-fast charging speeds; Mercedes suggests that 199 miles of range can be added in just 15 minutes.
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Bi-directional charging will allow users to run or charge other electrical items from the van’s battery pack, as well as opening the door to vehicle-grid compatibility.
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A more powerful all-wheel drive version, called the VLE 400, will arrive later this year, delivering 409 hp and a much faster 0-62 mph sprint of just 6.5 seconds, although there is currently no information on how that will affect maximum driving range.
The stylish and attractive van has been deliberately designed to be as aerodynamic and efficient as possible, borrowing lessons from the recent CLA to improve its drag coefficient factor and optimize the way it uses energy from the battery packs to reduce the need for charging stops.
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The upcoming VLE is not only attractive, but also manages to be practical and extremely high-end on the inside.
It can be configured to seat between five and eight passengers, with rear seats that slide on rails and can be removed completely to free up an impressive 4,078 liters of cargo space, according to Autocar.
Additionally, these seats have built-in wheels, so they can be easily stored and moved around the garage when not in use. As someone who has to manually load and remove seats from my old Volkswagen Transporter to make room for broken down motorcycles, this sounds like a godsend.
Customers who want a more luxurious experience can request electronically adjustable seats, which slide and move with the touch of a button.
Additionally, there is an optional 31.3-inch 8K widescreen display that uses split-screen functionality so rear occupants can watch shows or movies separately.
Mercedes says it also offers an eight-megapixel front camera for joining video conferences, which sounds a lot less nice.
Digitization continues up front, as the brand’s massive MBUX Superscreen will also be available as an option, which effectively sees a 26cm (10.25-inch) driver screen, a 35.6cm (14-inch) center screen and a 35.6cm (14-inch) front passenger screen taking up the entire dashboard.
There’s currently no word on pricing, but given that the VLE looks to represent the last word in truck-like luxury, it won’t be cheap.
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