Mercedes announces new Van.EA architecture for private and commercial vans launching from 2026

16 May 2023

Mercedes is introducing a brand new all-electric architecture today, and it's imaginatively calling it "Van.EA", which stands for, are you ready for this - "van electric architecture". From 2026, all newly developed Mercedes vans will use Van.EA, which was "developed from scratch as a purpose battery electric vehicle", according to the company.

We're talking both commercial vans and those meant for private use. Using Van.EA, Mercedes is planning on reducing portfolio variants by more than 50% compared to current vans with an internal combustion engine, while covering the same use cases. This will create "maximum added value for customers" as well as "significant economies of scale" for Mercedes itself.

Van.EA is modular and scalable, and its goal is to "achieve a high range with an optimal battery capacity, which is directly related to vehicle weight and costs". There are three modules. The front module is the same in all Van.EA variatns, and it consists of the electric powertrain and front axle.

The center module scales the vehicle length, and it's where the standardized battery case is placed. Inside that case will live different capacity cells. The rear module will be available in two versions: one with an electric motor for the all-wheel-drive vans, and one without the motor for front-wheel-drive iterations.

There will be "luxury private vans" - Van.EA-P. These will be in the midsize segment, "with a new level of luxury", and a planned range of "well over 500 km". At launch, SAE Level 2 automated driving will be available, while SAE Level 3 is "planned to be realized by the end of the decade".

Van.EA-C stands for "premium commercial vans in the midsize and large segments". The modular and scalable design enables these to be courier, express, and parcel delivery vehicles, ambulances, "eGrocery" vans, municipal vans, flatbeds, lifting platforms, recreational vehicles, or almost anything else. Again, at launch SAE Level 2 automation will be available, while for commercial vans SAE Level 4 is planned to be realized by the end of the decade.

Mercedes sees future potential in the US for premium commercial large vans and in China for luxury private vans, while it also wants to strengthen its position in Europe. In the US, there will also, for the first time, be a privately positioned midsize luxury van. You should additionally expect to see an entire line of fully electric midsize and large camper vans based on Van.EA.

The company will have its first pure electric light commercial vehicle plant in Jawor, Poland. The large cab chassis based on Van.EA will also be built in Düsseldorf, Germany, and the midsize Van.EA vans will be made at Mercedes-Benz Vans' plant in Vitoria, Spain.