Mercedes-Benz eSprinter 2024: Delivering More Than Just Cargo Amidst Wisconsin’s Record Spring Floods

By a stroke of good fortune, my booking for the 2024 Mercedes-Benz eSprinter coincided perfectly with the time I required it.

The record-breaking rainfall this Spring in Southeastern Wisconsin resulted in my mother's basement being inundated with water. Before relocating from an apartment to a home three years ago, I had stored numerous personal items in her basement to declutter my living space. Additionally, the belongings of my niece's late father had been accumulating there for the past three years.

The inundation signaled it was the moment to relocate all that junk to make space for the workers to operate.

I acquired the eSprinter when its battery was nearly full at 99%, showing a potential distance of 199 miles before needing a recharge. Although there's no official range stated yet, the 2024 eSprinter can cover 273 miles according to the generous European WLTP standards.

I must confess, the fear of the battery depleting before completing the journey was on my mind. The entire trip was estimated to cover 140 miles, and the last thing I wanted was to be stranded without power. However, as it turned out, my concerns were unfounded. My mother's place is situated 42 miles in the northwestern direction, and my niece resides just over 14 miles to the southeast. In total, that would make my travel distance for the day close to 112 miles. This calculation gave me a substantial buffer in terms of the vehicle's actual performance versus the eSprinter's demonstrated range capacity, which seems to exceed 200 miles.

The vehicle I evaluated was identical to other units from the 2024 batch, featuring a tall roof design and the extended 170-inch wheelbase, coupled with a sizeable 113-kWh (usable) battery. It’s worth noting that the upcoming 2025 eSprinter will introduce options for a lower roof, a more compact 144-inch wheelbase, and a reduced 81-kWh battery capacity. My test model was equipped with the higher-output 201-hp engine, which delivers an equivalent 295 lb-ft of torque as the standard 151-hp motor found in the base model.

Upcoming 2024 Mercedes-Benz Electric Sprinter Van

The eSprinter came as a vast hollow container, boasting an impressive 488.1 cubic feet space for goods. At its center, on the cargo floor, stood a wooden crate measuring 48x48x28 inches, and ahead of this, two additional tires were positioned. Inside the crate was a load weighing 440 pounds, which, along with the tires, served to stabilize the vehicle's movement, much like how pickup truck drivers employ sandbags in an empty truck bed. However, this large empty crate threatened to take up crucial room needed for relocating a significant amount of belongings.

In essence, the storage space wasn't brimming with essentials but rather contained the remnants of our pastimes – items we cherished but didn't use daily. The container served as an efficient partition, segregating my collection of miniature vehicles, periodicals, and car-related literature from his assortment of musical instruments, amplification equipment, and wilderness survival tools. Despite filling it with our belongings, there was a noticeable amount of unoccupied space remaining.

2024 Model of Mercedes-Benz eSprinter

2024 Model of the Mercedes-Benz eSprinter Electric Vehicle

The cargo didn't significantly impact the eSprinter's power or its travel distance capabilities. During the 83.9-mile journey to my mother's place and returning with some load and then without, it consumed 48% of its battery life. The onboard trip calculator estimated a remaining distance of 85 to 98 miles, influenced by the driving approach and use of climate settings. Considering I used the air conditioning and drove mostly on the highway at speeds between 70 and 75 mph, it's clear why the vehicle didn't quite meet its anticipated range.

The vehicle effortlessly matched the pace of city traffic and attained highway velocities with ease. Regardless of its load, overtaking on the freeway was difficult. The engine's configuration is optimized for practical, everyday use without providing any extra performance.

I covered an additional 28.7 miles on a round trip to my niece's place, with the majority on the freeway, bringing the overall journey to 112.6 miles. This left the eSprinter with an estimated range of 73-85 miles and the battery at 37% capacity. In total, the van managed an average of 1.7 miles per kilowatt-hour on this trip, which is quite acceptable considering its large size and less-than-aerodynamic shape.

2024 Model of the Mercedes-Benz eSprinter

Upon fully powering up the van at my residence using a Level 2 charger, the onboard trip computer displayed a potential distance of 192 miles at full battery capacity. It appears the system adapts its distance predictions according to the driving patterns and recent mileage. Carrying less weight and reducing speed would likely enhance the predicted range.

The upcoming 2024 eSprinter from Mercedes-Benz appears to be a wise investment for those managing vehicle fleets. With a base price of $77,611 and an additional $3,430 for an upgraded motor, it's approximately $16,000 above the cost of a standard gas model. Despite the higher upfront cost, its ample battery range is suitable for a day's work, and the lower operational costs due to its electric nature may offset the initial expense over a longer period and extensive use. Additionally, it offers the benefit of being more environmentally friendly.

It's particularly advantageous when someone presents you with one right at the moment your mother requires your belongings to be cleared from her basement.

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The starting cost for the 2024 Mercedes-Benz eSprinter is $74,181, with an additional $2,295 for delivery, totaling $77,611 for the reviewed model. It features a 201-horsepower engine, a 113-kWh battery, and is rear-wheel driven. The EPA estimates a range between 200-220 miles. Its strengths include adequate power, ample storage space, and fleet efficiency. However, its drawbacks are limited power at high speeds, its bulky size, and a significantly higher price tag compared to its gasoline counterpart.

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