The network comprises 33 sales outlets, of which 30 are also equipped to service the battery electric commercial vehicle. Locations cover the entirety of the country from Eutin in the north to Munich in the south, Duisburg in the west to Dresden in the east. These are supported by the carmaker’s Central Supply Depot in Germersheim, which can supply a comprehensive range of replacement parts.

To meet the demands of business users, all workshop personnel have been trained and given a qualification in high voltage electric vehicle systems. Mercedes-Benz said the Vito E-Cell requires servicing and a check of components and cables every 20,000 miles, with servicing costs lower than a conventional model due to the lack of oil and filters.

The carmaker began its four-year trial in 2010 with a fleet of vehicles in Berlin. This has now been extended to over 230 Vito E-Cell models, which have covered a combined 650,000km in the hands of a wide variety of industries and over the full spectrum of terrains. Further variants beyond the panel van are planned for this year.