Mercedes has recently showcased its electric vehicle efforts. The company has demonstrated how sustainability can involve more than just battery. The newly launched Sustaineer delivery van concept is fully electric. Not just that, it also claims to improve the air around it.
The van comes with fine particulate filters on the front and the underbody purifies the air around the van no matter what the speed of the vehicle is. It uses cast iron, ceramic-coated disc brakes that both reduce the amount of dust in the air and limit brake wear.
Keeping it as clean as possible
The van also features solar panels on its roof to extend its range and reduce the need for plug-in charging, which also contributes to CO2 emissions at times. The van can further charge devices like laptops without having to start the van. Solar power on electrified vehicles isn’t new, but Mercedes aims to keep EVs as clean as possible.
Other environment-friendly tech includes an energy-saving heating system that stays close to the body and is made by using recycled materials. The filler is made from household waste, the cab partition is built using natural straw and the underbody includes recycled polypropylene and used tires. The company also aims to reduce noise pollution by using a quiet electric drivetrain, low rolling resistance tires, and a hushed automatic delivery door.
Mass production plans still unclear
For safety, the van has a camera that monitors road conditions and shares reports of potholes with cities, while digital mirrors offer a clearer field-of-view which users usually don’t get on cargo vans. It’s still unclear when the company will start mass-producing Sustaineer. That said, Mercedes emphasized that all the van’s tech was crafted with large-scale production in offing.
Previously, a British designer designed an electric car that also claims to clean the polluted air while driving. Thomas Heatherwick, an award-winning architect, was approached by IM Motors, Chinese car manufacture to create the concept car. The front grille of the vehicle packs an air filter which the designer claims can “collect a tennis ball worth of particulate matter per year.”
