Mercedes-Benz has taken the VLE, the successor to the V-Class and EQV, on a road trip from Stuttgart to Rome. The electric prototype proved more than capable for the 1,100-km journey, requiring only two brief charging stops of 15 minutes each, showcasing the electric minivan’s 800V technology.
Granted, the VLE’s road trip from Germany to Italy isn’t as impressive as what the company achieved with the Vision EQXX. This concept car managed distances of over 1,200 km on a single charge. However, the electric Mercedes VLE is expected to bring a notable improvement over the old EQV, both in terms of range and charging speed.
Challenging conditions, no problems
Mercedes took the VLE from Stuttgart to Rome via the Alps, combining long stretches of highway, tight mountain roads, and narrow city streets. The focus was to prove the electric minivan’s performance in multiple real-world situations and across different climatic conditions – the temperatures varied from 11 to 33 degrees Celsius, but the air conditioning stayed at 22 degrees inside.
It appears that the upcoming VLE will be well-suited for long-distance driving. The 1,090-km route was completed in around 13 hours, taking two quick-charging stops of 15 minutes each. This adds up to around 300 to 350 km of driving between charges, likely taking the battery from 10% to 80%.
500 km WLTP, 400+ km in the real world?
Therefore, a real-world driving range of over 400 km on a full battery can be expected from the electric Mercedes VLE. Mercedes initially promised up to 500 km WLTP, which adds up. The quick charging stops are thanks to the 800V architecture, which is becoming the norm for premium electric models.
Coming in 2026
The Mercedes VLE is scheduled to launch in 2026 and is based on the new VAN platform.EA platform, and will also get a combustion brother on the VAN.CA platform. Both architectures will support a wide range of models, from compact family vehicles to large luxury vans, which will be referred to as VLS. The recent Mercedes Vision V concept car offered a preview of what we might expect from the VLS.
