Mercedes-Benz Vans UK has introduced its first electric Service24h roadside assistance van, as part of a pilot project in London.
The eSprinter is kitted out in the same way as the diesel-engined vehicles that provide free, round-the-clock support to customers throughout the UK.
Operating from the Marshall Van Croydon Dealership in south London, it is now being utilised to serve the capital’s growing Mercedes-Benz eVan community.
Simon Neill, Customer Operations Director, Mercedes-Benz Vans UK Ltd, declared: “We’re really pleased to have added the first electric roadside assistance vehicle to the fleet of around 180 Service24h vans operating nationwide.
“It’s important to demonstrate to customers for our eSprinter and eVito models that we can fully support them with an electric van. The vision, on completion of this pilot, is to introduce more eSprinters to the fleet nationally where appropriate. We’re also planning, later this year, to set our first eSprinter based mobile servicing unit on the road.”
The eSprinter is powered by a 114 hp electric motor that drives the front wheels, and produces zero tailpipe emissions. Crucially, its 55kW high-voltage battery pack is securely mounted beneath the body. This means it does not impinge on the space needed in the cargo area to provide the Service24h technician with a practical workspace and to carry a full complement of equipment and GenuineParts.
The van will travel 95 miles (combined WLTP with 80 km/h speed limiter) on a single charge, which is ample not only for most urban delivery and last mile applications, but also for the overwhelming majority of roadside call-outs attended by Marshall Van and other members of the Mercedes-Benz Vans network.
Marshall Van Croydon Dealer Principal Mark Effenberg commented: “We are very proud to have been chosen by Mercedes-Benz Vans UK to take part in this exciting pilot project.
“As our sales colleagues will testify, demand for electric vans bearing the three-pointed star continues to go from strength to strength. It is entirely fitting, therefore, that wherever possible the vehicles we use to provide the award-winning aftersales back-up for which Mercedes-Benz is renowned, should also employ the latest, emissions-free technology.”
Mercedes-Benz Vans’ award-winning Service 24h provision is integral to its industry-leading MobiloVan* commitment. Highly-trained Mercedes-Benz technicians attend callouts in vans equipped for a wide range of tasks and stocked with Mercedes-Benz GenuineParts. The average response time is 66 minutes, with 87% of vans fixed at the roadside and sent on their way.
(Photo caption)
Marshall Van Croydon Dealer Principal Mark Effenberg is pictured with Service24h technician Laurie Copland, and the first Service 24h Mercedes-Benz eSprinter
For more information about MobiloVan, please visit https://www.mercedes-benz.co.uk/vans/en/Owners/MobiloVan.
Ends
Notes to Editor:
*MobiloVan applies to vehicles purchased from an authorised Mercedes-Benz Dealer, originally destined for and first registered in the UK on or after 01.10.2012. To extend coverage beyond the initial three years of warranty cover and up to a maximum of thirty years, customers need to have their vehicle serviced at one of the Mercedes-Benz Vans approved workshops nationwide and it will automatically be renewed until the next service is due. Terms and conditions apply.
About Mercedes-Benz Vans UK Ltd:
Mercedes-Benz has been at the forefront of commercial vehicle innovation for over 120 years. From delivering the world’s first motorised van in 1896, through to the emissions-free, shape-shifting, drone-compatible Vision URBANETIC vehicles of the future, the Brand constantly drives change to keep businesses and lives moving.
Today, Mercedes-Benz Vans offers an award-winning range of cargo and people-carrying vehicles, focused on flexibility, safety, on-board technology and reliability; the small-sized Citan, versatile mid-sized Vito, and the mighty Sprinter large van and chassis, as well as helping businesses of all shapes and sizes go electric with the eVito and eSprinter.
Mercedes-Benz Vans is transforming from a vehicle manufacturer, to a provider of holistic transportation and mobility solutions, and offers range of services to keep businesses moving, including free MobiloVan roadside assistance, convenient Service Care plans, funding via Mercedes-Benz Finance, Mercedes PRO connect in-built telematics, and MBUX, the world’s first voice assistant in a van.
The nationwide, round-the-clock, dedicated Dealer network is made up of 110 sites, and more than 4,000 colleagues, with the team at Mercedes-Benz Vans UK Head Office averaging more than 10 years direct experience with the Brand. Partnering with more than 7,000 customers, Mercedes-Benz Vans UK has customer relationships going back as far as 1974, with hundreds of new customers joining the Brand each year.
For more information about Mercedes-Benz Vans, please visit www.mbvans.co.uk.
Contact:
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Impact Communications
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