Mercedes-Benz Vans is collaborating with Thermo King to co-develop a refrigerated version of the e-Sprinter electric van focused on deliveries of pharmaceuticals.

In the first round of testing, the eSprinter Pharma drove more than 2,000km, maintaining the temperature of the load compartment between 15 and 25 degrees Celsius

Aimed at last-mile urban operations, the Mercedes-Benz eSprinter Pharma prototype features an all-electric E-200 refrigeration unit and a new lithium-ion battery from Thermo King. These ensure independent and constant capacity operations, even if the driver stops for a delivery or a break.

“Sustainability and environmental protection are increasingly important for our customers, who are facing more and more challenges that apply to inner city deliveries,” explained Matthias Brzenczek industry manager pharma at Mercedes-Benz AG.

“With the eSprinter Pharma, we want to offer a sustainable, electrically-powered van specifically built to meet the needs of the pharmaceutical industry. From the outset, we wanted to avoid solutions using independent auxiliary battery or passive cooling methods. We want our customers to be able to rely on an active and efficient cooling and heating system in the load compartment.”

The prototype van has undergone first rounds of successful testing and further tests are planned for the end of 2020 and early 2021.