Tipper – Ford E-Transit vs Mercedes-Benz eSprinter
In the last few years, electric vans have increased significantly in both their technological innovation and popularity with the public. New “clean zones” popping up in city centres and European diesel emissions regulations have made electric vans an often more practical choice of vehicle than diesel – for both manufacturers and consumers.
Because of this, van manufacturers have been concentrating their energies on creating effective electric conversions of their most popular van models. This has been demonstrated by two titans of the van industry, Ford and Mercedes-Benz. Ford’s E-Transit, as the name suggests, is an electrified Transit, perhaps the most well-known van of all time, and the Mercedes-Benz eSprinter is an electric version of their popular Sprinter model.
If you require your commercial vehicle to carry and transport heavy objects, a tipper variant is the type of electric van for you. Consisting of a single cabin with a cargo bed able to “tip” upwards and downwards, loading and unloading high volumes of loose materials becomes effortless and simple. Tipper vans are often used in the construction, waste management, and agriculture industries.
We’ve pitted together the tipper variants of the Ford E-Transit and Mercedes-Benz eSprinter to learn more about each van and which can most suitably fit your needs from a commercial vehicle.
Engines and Spec
The Ford E-Transit Tipper runs on a fully-electric 68kWh battery and manages an outstanding range of 196 miles per charge. This is close to class-leading range and something countless commercial vehicle users will be grateful for. Even with this range, charging time is still short and efficient, as the E-Transit Tipper – when connected to a 115kW DC fast charger – can reach full battery in 34 minutes. However, the Ford will charge 8 hours to charge when using a standard AC wallbox charger.
The Mercedes-Benz eSprinter Tipper, on the other hand, contains a 55kWh battery which achieves a reasonable mileage of 96 miles. Whilst the e-Sprinter Tipper takes only 30 minutes to reach 80% with 80kW fast-charging, it will take eight hours to fully charge from a standard 7.4kW wallbox. These figures do somewhat limit the eSprinter, especially its middling mileage, but the fast charging capabilities are helpful for keeping the van moving whilst you’re on the go.
The Ford E-Transit Tipper is available with 198kW (269hp) of power, giving the large electric van composure and punch in acceleration. The smoothness of the drive ensures unsecured loads (such as loose materials often transported by a tipper variant) aren’t affected by the E-Transit’s power. This derives from the independent rear suspension, a recently engineered part of the E-Transit which uses coil springs in place of a live axle set-up. The result is a nimble-feeling large van that can handle bumps expertly – a key advantage for a Tipper variant.
With the Mercedes-Benz E-Sprinter Tipper, it combats its reduced driving range with three helpful driving modes than can enhance the van’s overall performance. These driving modes are C, E, and E+. C, the default mode, stands for comfort and delivers the van’s full power. E, the economy mode, limits power and torque, cut back even further by the E+ mode, which also deactivates the climate control to most effectively use the remaining battery charge.
Both vans feature regenerative braking systems, an area where the eSprinter edges out the E-Transit. Ford’s regenerative braking system is controlled by the brake pedal, but it isn’t permanently engaged once pressed, reverting to the standard setting when you begin to accelerate again. Mercedes, meanwhile, have steering-wheel-mounted paddles that can toggle the regenerative braking system, making for easy and efficient driving.
Interior
Moving inside the Ford E-Transit Tipper’s interior, the user is greeted with a high-quality and luxurious cab experience. The first thing you might notice is the enormous 12-inch central touchscreen, reminiscent of Tesla’s tablet-like infotainment displays.
Fitted with Sync 4, Ford leads the way with cutting-edge connectivity features, as its infotainment screen makes navigation straightforward. This is surrounded by comfortable, plush leather and sleek edges, resulting in a classy build quality. Other features include a keyless start, heated door mirrors, and an electric parking brake.
The Mercedes-Benz eSprinter Tipper features a more practically-minded and functional interior than the E-Transit’s, available in only one trim level. The interior does also lack a touchscreen in the centre of a dash with a slightly disappointing LCD display in the centre placed instead.
However, the materials in the eSprinter used are hardwearing with sturdy overall build quality. There is good visibility also and the cabin has lots of storage facilities in the cab, from door bins to deep walls in the dashboard. The eSprinter also has useful driver safety features such as crosswind assist, attention assist, and compatibility with the Mercedes Pro Connect app.
The Verdict
Overall, both the Ford E-Transit and Mercedes eSprinter make for a great tipper van variant as well as an excellent choice of electric commercial vehicle. The E-Transit excels in its range, power, and comprehensive infotainment system, whilst the eSprinter flourishes with its regenerative braking system, helpful driver safety features, and no-nonsense, functional interior.
If you’re interested in either of these vans, both the Ford E-Transit and Mercedes eSprinter are in stock at Van Sales UK, as tippers and in a range of other variants. Van Sales UK also stocks a range of other electric and diesel, new and used, and small to large commercial vehicles. Take a look through our website, there will be a commercial vehicle that could suit your needs.
Get in touch with Van Sales UK to find out more about our services. Call us at 0117 205 2978 or email sales@vansalesuk.co.uk to speak to a friendly member of our team.
