Deniz Calagan
The surprise was huge! The fully electric Mercedes EQT has debuted in the guise of a motorhome. AUTO BILD has been the first medium in the world that has exclusively allowed us to spend the first night in this new e-camper
In the future, Mercedes will only rely on electricity. And we are not only referring to its range of passenger cars. The same is already happening with its commercial vehicles: the Mercedes T-Class, which has just been presented (it has replaced the Mercedes Citan) is the one that has presented its latest and most recent 100% electric model.
Specifically, this electric version of the Mercedes T-Class will be called Mercedes EQT and will celebrate its premiere, very unusually, as a camper vehicle. And that will not be the only novelty, because it will also debut a new, longer wheelbase of 2.7 meters.
We already told you at the time about the Mercedes Concept EQT Marco Polo1, when it was presented. But now we have been able to enjoy it in person.
The reason for this unusual staging is that Mercedes sees great potential for the small van in the caravanning sector. Campervans in particular are enjoying increasing popularity.
And to prove it, the brand of the star has let us get on the Concept EQT Marco Polo. Once inside, we verify that the furniture modules can be disassembled in a few minutes by two people. Thus, the camper van magically becomes a car.
Families with children in particular will appreciate the large sliding side doors, as well as its long wheelbase, for the interior space it provides. The long version (just under five meters in length) offers seven seats as standard, the normal version (4.49 meters) has five seats. The total height of the vehicle is 1,819 mm.
As far as equipment is concerned, the new Mercedes EQT comes with seven airbags and numerous standard assistance systems guarantee safety.
The Stuttgart-based company, like the T-Class, has also developed the EQT together with Renault, since it is a clone model of the Renault Kangoo.
Mechanics of 122 CV and not much autonomy
The electric motor of the EQT offers 122 CV of power and 245 Nm of torque. The battery has a capacity of 45 kWh, which should be enough to cover 282 kilometers. By the way, the charging socket is hidden in the grille under the chrome star.
Using a 80 kW DC charger, the battery fills from 10 to 80% in 38 minutes. It’s not too much, really. Luckily, the EQT tells you when and where to connect to a charging point, using the MercedesMe app’s intelligent route planning and calculation, which works in combination with the standard multimedia system MBUX.
A quality detail is that elements typical of higher segments have been introduced, such as the side and rear windows that change their appearance at the touch of a button and provide more privacy, something that has already been seen, for example, in the Maybach.
With so much privacy, we do not hesitate to go up to the pop-up roof, where we find a bed that measures 2 meters long by 1.15 meters wide. And it was still early to enjoy all its camper equipment, but we confirm that it has a portable fridge, sink and induction cooker.
Conclusion and price Mercedes EQT
So, of course, it’s easy to dream of a future of electric campervans. The first will be this Mercedes EQT Marco Polo, which will be available in the second half of 2023 starting at around 49,000 euros (in the German market and in its passenger version, without camperization). We remind you that the T-Class with a combustion engine starts at 29,930 euros.
With extensive standard equipment, as well as the MBUX multimedia system with intelligent route planning, the possibility of converting it to a camper and 100% electric mechanics, Mercedes has just demonstrated what the van of the future is like. Or, rather, of the present.
