The Mercedes eSprinter becomes an electric ice truck
The British ice truck manufacturer Whitby Morrison has introduced a fully electric ice truck based on the Mercedes-Benz eSprinter platform. The vehicle was designed from the ground up as an electric ice truck and has successfully passed the single-vehicle registration process.
Whitby Morrison introduces the vehicle to the public as “the world’s first fully certified electric ice lorry.” The basis for this vehicle, developed in the UK with a single-vehicle license, is a Mercedes-Benz eSprinter Chassis Cab with a gross weight of 4.25 tons, which can be driven with a Class B driver’s license. The first electric ice lorry of its kind is now being used by ice manufacturer Hocking’s of North Devon.
The Brits emphasize that the ice truck is not a converted diesel vehicle but was designed from the ground up as a fully electric ice truck. According to Whitby Morrison, the eSprinter chassis provides a range of up to 274 miles (around 440 km) and can charge from 10% to 80% in 34 minutes. This suggests that the eSprinter, as the first approved ice truck, will feature the largest of the three available batteries with a net energy capacity of 113 kWh. However, other battery options are also available.
Whitby Morrison’s truck is equipped with the so-called ePower system to ensure, among other things, ice cooling on board. This is intended to guarantee a quiet operation “without excessive noise from conventional auxiliary power systems.”
Ed Whitby, Operations Director at Whitby Morrison, comments: “From time to time, a vehicle comes onto the market that feels like a real turning point. This is one of those moments. The launch of our first fully certified electric ice truck is something we are incredibly proud of. Our specially developed electric ice truck was designed to meet the needs of operators in real-world conditions while helping to advance the industry toward a cleaner and quieter future.” For ice truck operators, the electric eSprinter offers a new option that meets modern business requirements without compromising the familiar customer experience that has made ice trucks so popular for decades.
Whitby Morrison expects the first ice truck model not to be an isolated case. Interest in this fully electric ice truck is set to grow, according to the company’s headquarters. The eSprinter will be used more frequently for such custom conversions. A few months ago, for example, we reported on a funeral vehicle based on Mercedes’ E-Transporter.
Source: Information via email, whitbymorrison.com