Der Wandel zur Elektromobilität ist vor dem Hintergrund hoher Öl- und Gaspreise und des Kampfs gegen den Klimawandel inzwischen auch bei Nutzfahrzeugen angekommen. „Die Entwicklung ist im Vergleich zu den Pkws ein paar Jahre verzögert“, sagt Dominik Ashkar, Gründer des Start-ups E-Works Mobility.Das Unternehmen hofft, eine Art Tesla für das Transporter-Segment zu werden. Das Unternehmen hat nach eigener Einschätzung mit dem Modell Heero den bislang stärksten Elektrotransporter der Welt entwickelt. Die Reichweite des 245-PS-Fahrzeugs auf Basis des Mercedes Sprinters sei mit bis zu 400 Kilometern doppelt so hoch wie die der Konkurrenzmodelle.
Das Unternehmen will die Mobilitätswende im Transporter-Segment entscheidend mitgestalten, heißt es. Derzeit rüstet E-Works Mobility vor allem gebrauchte Sprinter um. Der Umbau eines vorhandenen Transporters kostet 70.000 Euro, muss auch ein Gebrauchtfahrzeug besorgt werden sind es 100.000 Euro. Laut Ashkar liegen bereits 1000 Anfragen für die nächsten beiden Jahre vor, 2023 dürfte das Unternehmen zweistellige Millionenumsätze erzielen. „Mittelfristig streben wir dann dreistellige Millionenumsätze an“, sagt der Gründer.
Laut einer Studie der europäischen Organisation Transport & Environment (T&E) ist der Einsatz von E-Transportern in Deutschland schon heute pro Kilometer durchschnittlich 28 Prozent preiswerter. „Aber es sind einfach nicht genug E-Transporter verfügbar“, sagt James Nix von T&E.
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Hier sieht E-Works seine Chance. Aktuelle Modellangebote der Konkurrenz seien eher etwas für den innerstädtischen Bereich, zum Beispiel für die Auslieferung von Paketen, sagt Ashkar. Es fehlten Fahrzeuge, die so komfortabel wie ein Diesel seien und ein paar Hundert Kilometer auf der Autobahn fahren können. Da Transporter oft lange im Einsatz seien, lohne sich auch der nachträgliche Umbau.
>> Also read: Mercedes makes an agreement with Rivian – manufacturers want to build electric vans together
From around 2028, E-Works Mobility wants to bring its own model onto the market. In addition, it wants to offer commercial customers comprehensive solutions, from vehicles to the entire energy ecosystem. “We see ourselves primarily as a software company,” says Ashkar.
In the industry, the start-up’s approach is being followed with both interest and a degree of skepticism. One has to wait and see how many buyers are willing to pay a total of 100,000 euros for a used van with a new electric drive, says an insider. It is also at least a big challenge to develop your own complete model in the next few years. But new impetus would do the industry good.
No direct competition with Mercedes
The market segment is attractive. According to a study by Bloomberg NEF, electric vans could account for 83 percent of new registrations in Europe by 2035. If the CO2 targets are tightened, the market could even switch completely. Currently, there are still exceptions for commercial vehicles for inner-city environmental zones.
Of course, the big providers have long since reacted to this. The van market is strongly influenced by Mercedes. The Sprinter has been available for two years in an electric version with a range of up to 158 kilometers, which is used by the DPD parcel service, for example. Production of the new generation will start in the second half of 2023. Depending on the configuration, this should have a range that is more than twice as large.
Dominik Ashkar
The managing director at E-Works Mobility E-Works converts Mercedes Sprinters for the electric age
(Photo: E-Works Mobility)
The smaller eVito is also meeting with good demand. “We have a clear goal, we want to be the leading manufacturer in the field of electric vans in the long term,” said Mathias Geisen, Head of Mercedes-Benz Vans.
According to Ashkar, the relationship with Mercedes is good. Since E-Works Mobility is currently mainly converting used vehicles and is aimed at customers with existing fleets and individual wishes, they don’t get in each other’s way. “In addition, the main issue at the moment is availability,” says the founder. The demand is sufficient for many providers – the challenge is to serve them.
Expert: Conversion of existing fleets is important for climate change
Ashkar founded the company five years ago. After studying business administration, he managed workshops as a master technician. “I’ve seen how poorly sustainable resources are used in the industry,” he says. The need for action was particularly great in the van sector with its high fuel consumption.
The company claims a lead in both the drive and the battery. “Our patented battery shape utilizes the entire underbody, allowing for a single pack,” says Ashkar. The drive technology for the Heero was developed in Ismaning near Munich. The software was also developed in-house.
With the conversion of the vans, E-Works Mobility is taking a similar approach to the start-up Pepper Motion, which subsequently converts larger commercial vehicles to electric drives. “We want to convert tens of thousands of trucks and buses over the next few years,” Managing Director Andreas Hager told Handelsblatt. It will only be possible to achieve the climate targets in the transport sector if the existing vehicles are also electrified. Because a bus with a diesel engine that is newly registered today will still be driving in 2050.
There has therefore been a change in awareness among fleet operators. “The diesel is gradually becoming obsolete, as its CO2 emissions have a negative impact on the customer’s climate balance,” says Jörg Gnamm, a partner at Bain. Anyone who does not soon have a comprehensive range of models in terms of electric and hydrogen vehicles will have to be prepared to lose market share.
More: Hydrogen in the tank – BMW is planning with the fuel cell.