Tesla could collaborate on eSprinter van

Tesla chief executive officer Elon Musk is keen to work with Daimler on its electric Sprinter vans.

Mercedes-Benz already offers the eSprinter as a short-range inner-city electric van aimed mainly at delivery fleets, due out next year.

The eSprinter could be used as part of Tesla’s mobile service fleet but it has potential for other uses.

Overseas media speculate Tesla could help provide a longer range eSprinter – which at present has about 115km range with a 41kWh battery or nearly 150km with a 55kWh battery.

The van’s payload is about 900kg or 1040kg and it produces about 84kW of power and 300Nm of torque.

Tesla and Daimler have worked together on EVs before, when Daimler was a Tesla shareholder until about 2014, with Tesla supplying its powertrains for first generation electric Smart cars and electric Mercedes-Benz B-Class vehicles.

Daimler chief executive officer Dieter Zetsche recently stated Mercedes-Benz could work with Tesla again.

Musk says in a November 20 tweet that his priority list remains Model Y, solar roof tiles, pickup, semi and roadster.