eVito Electric Van Winter Endurance Tests

The new eVito faced testing for several weeks in the Scandinavian winter — and it did very well indeed.

Electric vehicles are starting to become realistic beyond the early adoption crowd. The biggest problem for mass adoption though is how electric vehicles deal with harsh weather. The most common issues are with range when batteries are either too hot or cold. In this video on The Wheel Network‘s YouTube channel, we get to see the eVito in action in adverse low-temperature conditions. For the testing, the van was put through its paces in one of Sweden’s most scenic areas. Arjeplog is a popular winter test site, and if it looks familiar, that may be because it was used in an episode of Top Gear.

In the video, it looks like the drivers really got the fun end of the stick. However, there was a lot more to do than drive around on the beautiful Northern Swedish frozen lakes. The tests involved around 30 engineers, mechanics, and electronic specialists from Mercedes-Benz. The eVito’s job was to demonstrate its handling, comfort, efficiency, and ergonomics in the extreme conditions.

With temperatures falling to minus 22 degrees Fahrenheit (-30˚C), Mercedes report that the eVito’s range only dropped from 93 miles to 62. Range wasn’t the only thing tested though. Special equipment was used to monitor the charging system as well as the anti-cold protection for the drive components and software.

Next for the eVito is testing in high-temperature conditions. For that, the eVito will visit an area in Spain that reaches 95 degrees Fahrenheit (35˚C) in the shade. This kind of commitment and testing, we believe, demonstrates Mercedes decision to making electric versions of its commercial model series is no gimmick. While Tesla is making over the top announcements about concepts, Mercedes is actually making real vehicles.

The eVito is already available to order with deliveries beginning in the second half of this year. Next to get the electric drivetrain treatment is the Sprinter. That is due in 2019 and then the Citan will follow to complete the lineup.

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Ian Wright

Ian Wright has been a professional writer for two years and is a regular contributor to Corvette Forum, Jaguar Forum, and 6SpeedOnline, among other auto sites.

His obsession with cars started young and has left him stranded miles off-road in Land Rovers, being lost far from home in hot hatches, going sideways in rallycross cars, being propelled forward in supercars and, more sensibly, standing in fields staring at classic cars. His first job was as a mechanic and then trained as a driving instructor before going into media production.

The automotive itch never left though, and he realized writing about cars is his true calling. However, that doesn’t stop him from also hosting the Both Hand Drive podcast.

Ian can be reached at bothhanddrive@gmail.com