MERCEDES-BENZ VITO E-CELL: FIRST VAN WITH ELECTRICAL POWER EX WORKS

With the Vito E-Cell, Mercedes-Benz is the first automotive manufacturer to produce an electrically powered van ex works. The van boasts lithium-ion batteries with prismatic cells at rated voltage of 360 V, weight around 500 kg and energy capacity of 36 kWh. Delivery of a follow-up series of 2000 vehicles started in the end of 2010.
The all-electric Mercedes-Benz Vito E-Cell, is not an experimental vehicle or a prototype, but a fully fledged series production model. The Vito E-Cell is the first electrically powered van in the world to be produced by an automotive manufacturer.

Comparison to the basic vehicle with combustion engine

The Vito E-Cell is based on a Mercedes Benz Vito panel van with a long wheelbase and a standard roof. It was chosen because of the large amount of free space below the floor to house the traction batteries. On the outside, all that distinguishes the electric vehicle from a Vito with a combustion engine is its décor and the rear model badge. The bodywork has remained untouched. The charging socket is housed behind the unchaged fuel filler cap on the driver’s side in the lower area of the B-pilar- the power is therefore supplied in the usual space.
The cockpit has also remained unchanged apart from a few details in the instrumentation. The speedometer is limited to a maximum of 120 km/h. There is a power output display instead of the rpm counter.

A needle shows whether the vehicle is recovering energy through recuperation or consuming it in the respective driving conditions. In the Vito E-Cell, the needle of the usual fuel level indicator provides information on the state of charge of the batteries.

Electric Drive

The Vito E-Cell is equipped with lihium-ion batteries.

A variant with prismatic cells has been chosen, partly because of the package. The battery consists of 192 cells, which are divided into 16 modules. The rated voltage is 360 V, the weight around 500 kg and the energy capacity 36kWh. 32 kWh of this is usable, a relatively high figure. The batteries are located under luggage compartament floor in a closed sheet-steel container with a glas-fiber reinforced polymer (GFRP) cover.

The motor, of the Vito E-cell is a permanent-field synchronous motor (PSM). This design is ideal because of its high output density with a correspondingly compact design, its high level of efficiency of around 95 % and the fact that it requires no maintenance. The continous output of the motor is 60 kW, and the peak output is 70 kW. The torque of 28 Nm is intrinsically available from the start and ensures outstanding acceleration. For instance, the Vito E-Cells goes from 0 to 60 km/h in just 6,5 s.

Force is transmitted to the front axle by means of a single-speed transmission system with a fixed gear ratio.

As part of a forthcoming series production with an expansion to several export markets, Mercedes-Benz will add a right-hand-drive version to the range of the electric van Vito E-Cell.

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