BERLIN: The next generation of delivery vans will reduce electric range anxiety, driver fatigue and particulate matter - at least according to a new Mercedes concept of a van combining new ideas on what delivery vehicles could look like in the near future.
More than a dozen innovations designed to benefit delivery workers - notoriously overworked and underpaid in many countries - have been selected for the study, the manufacturer said.
The new features, many of which would also work in passenger cars, are installed in an electric concept van dubbed Sustaineer.
To increase the range, Mercedes has installed solar cells on the roof, which are supposed to supply the electricity for about 1,000 additional kilometres per year, at least based on weather conditions in the company's home market of Germany.
At the same time, Mercedes wants to save energy with a new climate control concept called "body heating". Instead of unnecessarily heating the entire cabin, this system only warms the steering wheel and seat belt, while the AC focuses on just the air around the driver.
A daylight lamp in the sun visor is also intended to contribute to the driver's well-being and reduce fatigue. The same applies to a "speed delivery door" that opens automatically to make it easier for the driver to unload the van.
Vans, with their long wheelbase and more limited visibility, also have a reputation for being involved in accidents in crowded cities, and Mercedes says it wants to increase safety with cameras instead of exterior and interior mirrors.
To reduce the van's contribution to particulate matter, known to increase the risk of fatal heart and lung diseases in city dwellers, the tyres and brakes in the Sustaineer create less abrasion, Mercedes says.
At the same time, new filters in the radiator grille and the floor of the van are designed to capture the particulate matter kicked up by the car itself and other vehicles, thereby actively improving air quality in cities, according to Mercedes.
Mercedes has not yet given any concrete launch dates for all this tech. However, many solutions are said to be close to being ready for series production and will be introduced in the next model generations at the latest.
