Electric vehicles are becoming more appropriate for fleet use

Frank Kemmerer is in charge of fleet management in the Mercedes-Benz passenger car division. As part of a conversation with the industry portal fuhrpark.de, he discussed whether or not electromobility would be appropriate for usage in commercial fleets. According to him, the alternative drive type is becoming a more viable answer for increasing applications.

Mercedes currently has several electric sport utility vehicles on the market. The Mercedes EQS, the battery-powered equivalent of the S-Class, was introduced in 2021 on the new EVA2 platform, marking the debut of the world's first battery sedan. A second EVA2 model, the Mercedes-Benz EQE, will be introduced this year as a completely electric alternative to the Mercedes-Benz E-Class, which is popular with businesspeople and fleets of vehicles. According to Kemmerer, BMW can now offer its first completely electric business sedan to clients who previously had no comparable product in their portfolio. The Mercedes EQE is also a step forward to reaching new consumers.

Some clients, according to the manager, have already converted their whole fleet to electric cars, according to the management. The rising ranges of these models contribute to the fact that they are becoming more and more suitable for a broader range of driving profiles. Furthermore, the rapid charging times have grown even shorter with each subsequent version of the Mercedes electric car. Mercedes also provides extensive access to the charging infrastructure and pays for the charging process through its services. The usage of electric vehicles in everyday life, as a result, is becoming increasingly convenient. The result is that now, Kemmerer added, "We no longer observe any meaningful limits of the type that could have existed a few years ago."

When asked when it would be appropriate for field employees to make the changeover from gasoline-powered vehicles to electric vehicles for long-distance journeys without reluctance, Kemmerer said they could already do so today. Mercedes offers sophisticated route planning for this reason, which considers charging operations during the day, such as at a fast-charging station or the customer's location. Electric vehicles are already a feasible choice for people who drive a lot. Another reason is that technical helpers are becoming more and more prevalent. Take, for example, the Mercedes navigation system, which organizes the shortest and most pleasant trip possible, considering a variety of parameters, including charging stops.

According to the WLTP standard, the Mercedes-Benz EQS has the most incredible range of any series electric vehicle available, with 780 kilometers. Even though the Mercedes EQE has a shorter range (660 kilometers), it is one of the models with the most extended range available in its sector, despite its lower flexibility. Furthermore, Mercedes-Benz recently unveiled the EQXX study, which allows drivers to go 1000 kilometers on a single battery charge. While plug-in hybrids are no longer regarded as suitable for fleets, they are becoming more popular. According to Kemmerer, the Mercedes C-Class's newest electric combustion engine variants have a fully electric range of more than 100 kilometers when driven on an electric basis.

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The Mercedes manager denied claims that the company was planning to discontinue the production of station wagons soon. The reports that have followed have been described as "purely speculative." Models designated as "T-models" have a lengthy history in the model history of the automobile manufacturer and are particularly popular on the German automobile market. For the time being, station wagons will continue to be available in the Mercedes C-Class and Mercedes E-Class model lines. Kemmerer would not say whether a station wagon that is entirely powered by electricity is in the works. Nothing more than this: all new vehicle designs should be all-electric by 2025, and buyers should have a choice of all-electric alternatives for each model, was all he had to say. The Mercedes-Benz EQB and EQC electric SUVs provide the same versatility and interior capacity as traditional station wagons. @via fuhrpark.de.