Mercedes-Benz Reveals The ‘Sustaineer’, A Concept Van That Cleans Air Around It
Image via Mercedes-Benz / Daimler
Mercedes-Benz is no stranger to the electric vehicle scene. With offerings like the EQS and several gorgeous all-electric concepts, it’s safe to say that the car manufacturer doesn’t plan to slow down.
It announced the ‘Sustaineer’ concept van on Wednesday, the portmanteau name firmly assuring us of its stance in our future world: “Sustainability Pioneer.” It’ll be “a tangible impression of just how sustainability in urban delivery operations may look in the future,” according to Mercedes-Benz.
Based on Mercedes-Benz’s own eSprinter Panel Van, the Sustaineer is fully electric and “combines a variety of innovative solutions” to improve the quality of air, and life, in the cities that it’ll traverse. All this will be done while it retains its ability to conserve resources and protect the climate.
Some of the elements included in this new EV are a rooftop solar panel measuring 51.7 square feet, and recycled materials making up its component parts. The solar panel means that the EV’s batteries can still be charged even when the ignition is off, which has the potential to provide up to 2,361 miles a year of range in sunny areas, according to Motor1.
Image via Mercedes-Benz / Daimler
Another standout feature is the fine particle filter that sits on the front module and underbody. These will enable the EV to clean the air surrounding it as it travels down the roads, taking in the specks of pollution that come off tires and asphalt.
This “cleaning” technology is said to reduce emissions by more than half, which is a pretty neat refresh in contrast to the usual association of vehicles causing pollution, especially in urban areas.
“The innovations and technical solutions that the Sustaineer is fitted with have been designed with the possibility of series production in mind,” the company explains. Even if the Sustaineer doesn’t become a widely-rolled-out vehicle, it’ll mean that the functions developed for it can be used in future Mercedes-Benz vans.
[via Motor1, images via Mercedes-Benz / Daimler]
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