Let’s be honest — the phrase “electric van” doesn’t usually get car folk salivating. But while the recent launch of the funky, futuristic PV5 may have whet the appetite, news of the upcoming Mercedes-Benz VLE might just have you going all in at the buffet.
Revealed as the brand’s next-generation luxury people mover, the VLE is set to replace the outgoing EQV and kick off a whole new era of electric vans for the three-pointed star. It sits on Mercedes’ brand-new VAN.EA architecture — a dedicated EV platform designed specifically for passenger and cargo vans — and the company is pitching it as nothing less than a “grand limousine” for the MPV world.
That means space, tech and comfort are very much the name of the game. The VLE will offer seating for up to eight passengers with a range of configurable layouts, including executive-style rear seats designed to turn long journeys into something approaching business-class travel.
Should customers not plump for the electrically reclining thrones, Mercedes also offers a range of seating that is mounted to a rail system, allowing for seats to be removed or added as required. Better still, these seats feature rollers, so they can be easily slid into a spot in the garage when not in use.
Rear passengers are particularly well looked after. Mercedes’ latest MBU Rear Seat Experience includes a huge 31.3-inch 8K panoramic display that drops down from the headliner, allowing passengers to stream movies, take video calls or split the screen for different content. Up front, the driver and lucky passenger enjoy the brand’s now-familiar MBUX Superscreen, which stretches across the dashboard and bundles together the digital driver display, central infotainment and passenger screen.
Of course, this isn’t just a rolling cinema. Underneath sits a 115kWh battery paired with an 800-volt electrical architecture that allows ultra-fast charging — Mercedes claims you can add roughly 355km of range in just 15 minutes at a rapid charger. Overall range could reach around 700km (435 miles) depending on the version.
Two models are expected initially: the single-motor VLE 300 and the dual-motor, all-wheel-drive VLE 400 4MATIC producing around 409hp. Air suspension and rear-axle steering should also make the handsome van surprisingly smooth to drive and easy manoeuvre in tight parking spots.
In short, the VLE looks like Mercedes taking the humble minivan and turning it into something genuinely desirable — a stylish lounge on wheels designed for profligate families, VIP shuttles and anyone that requires the space but doesn’t want to compromise on life’s little luxuries.
And if this really is the future of electric vans, we’re very much here for it.
