The Mercedes-Benz Vito E-CELL has made an impressive mark thanks to its innovative strength and performance.
An independent specialist jury made up of industry representatives from the postal and logistics sector has awarded the Vito E-CELL top honors in the “Transport/Logistics Innovation of the Year” category of the Postal Technology International Awards 2010. Launched in 2009, the awards also pay tribute to other excellent initiatives in the areas of logistics, automation technologies, delivery innovations and environmental protection.
The prize is awarded by Postal Technology International, a magazine which, in conjunction with its internet edition, provides the latest news from around the world for decision-makers in the logistics and postal sectors. The award was presented on 6 October 2010 at the annual Post Expo logistics exhibition held in Copenhagen. Post Expo has become the venue for the world’s postal and logistics operators to gather and discuss the challenges and solutions of this expanding sector.
Commenting during the presentation of the award, Volker Mornhinweg, Head of Mercedes-Benz Vans, said: “I am extremely pleased that we have been able to raise the profile of our innovative Vito E-CELL even further among what for us is an important customer base. At this point I would like to thank everyone involved for their efforts in helping us to achieve this.”
Vito E-CELL: emission-free and quiet with an electric drive system
As the first purely electric-powered van to be introduced ex-factory by any automobile manufacturer, thanks to its emission-free drive system the Mercedes-Benz Vito E-CELL is ideally suited to logistics operations in inner-city areas and therefore also in particularly environmentally sensitive areas. The first Vito E-CELL vehicles have already been handed over to customers, and it is expected that around 100 vehicles will have been delivered by the end of the year. A further 2000 units are already planned to be delivered up to 2012.
Providing a range of approximately 130 km, the Vito E-CELL is capable of meeting the typical customer requirements for vans making frequent short journeys. At the same time there is also no limit on using the available load space. With a payload of around 900 kg, the Vito E-CELL really is a fully functioning courier, express and parcel services van.
High-capacity lithium-ion drive batteries
The batteries housed under the load compartment are lithium-ion units with a high performance and load capacity. Thanks to intelligent technology, the charging times can be defined according to the vehicle’s operating profile. As such, each Vito E-CELL can be charged precisely when the respective energy providers supply “green” and cost-effective electrical power. Furthermore, the batteries are also charged while driving thanks to regenerative braking, i.e. by converting braking power into electricity.
