Daimler will use the funds to produce and deliver, for testing purposes, some 50 Mercedes-Benz vans. They will each have a drive system which will only operate in electric mode, removing all the mechanics designed for internal combustion engines.
"The grant is in support of Daimler AG's efforts to realise environmentally friendly goods transport in urban areas. Battery-powered vehicles emit no carbon dioxide or pollutants, and have significantly lower noise emissions than conventionally powered vehicles, which makes them very suitable for use in environmentally sensitive inner-city areas," Daimler says.
Whatever the findings after the testing is complete, Daimler will work to incorporate the good aspects of the vans into production ready models. In addition, the German manufacturer will also look into how the infrastructure needs to be modified to accommodate the future EV vans.
According to Mercedes, the first electric vans will be ready to begin testing as soon as 2010, as they will enter service with fleet operators and public bodies conducting transport operations in environmentally sensitive areas.
Until that time, Daimler will conduct research on the project at its HQ in Stuttgart. To make them ready for testing as soon as next year, Daimler will use "new management methods to achieve shorter development cycles, with the supply industry and users also included in these efforts."
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