As an expert in bespoke journeys, Chabé offsets all the carbon emissions linked to the provision of its services through the Good Planet foundation. It becomes the first French company to receive the new EQV. These 4 EQVs are its first 100% electric vans. One more step towards the predominantly low-carbon fleet that Chabé intends to offer from 2022.
Montigny-le-Bretonneux (78) / Nanterre (92). Chabé wants to offer its customers more environmentally friendly vehicles and assert itself as a responsible and innovative player in bespoke journeys.
After having integrated its first hybrid vehicles in 2019 and then, in 2020, 100% electric vehicles – of various brands -, Chabé, which has been using various Mercedes models (E, S and V Class and Maybach) for a long time, has just received 4 EQVs, the 100% electric version of the V Class, at its headquarters in Nanterre (92). Guillaume Connan, CEO of Chabé, and Jean-Christophe Ajax, Mercedes-Benz VN Sales Director, tell us more about the environmental strategy of their respective groups.
For several years now, Chabé has been engaged in a voluntary and ambitious CSR approach. One of your priorities is the protection of the environment. Can you tell us more about it?
Guillaume Connan : Before drawing up our action plan, we established a diagnosis of Chabé’s environmental performance and determined a precise methodology for measuring our emissions. Since then, we have been offsetting the CO2 emissions of all our passengers’ journeys where we operate directly and also on behalf of our subsidiaries and partners around the world. We have also worked to reduce our waste, both inside and outside the vehicle, and have identified a dozen areas where we are working daily to reduce our environmental footprint while continuing to provide a premium mobility experience for our passengers.
As a car manufacturer, what are Mercedes-Benz’s most important ecological measures?
Jean-Christophe Ajax : Our “Ambition 2039” programme, which is our roadmap for CO2-neutral mobility, includes 100% electric vehicles such as EQV, EQC and future EQS for cars as well as hybridisation for the latter. Not forgetting the further optimisation of internal combustion engines. In addition, from 2022, all our Cars and Vans factories will be CO2 neutral. This will also apply to our battery production sites.
What are the main features of the new EQV which has just joined the Chabé fleet?
JC-A : Like all V-Class vehicles, the EQV can accommodate up to 8 people (including the chauffeur) with the advantages of zero-emission driving. The EQV delivers very convincing performance (maximum output 204 hp), with all the advantages of the V-Class in terms of functionality, comfort and design. Its 90 kWh battery provides a range of up to 353 km in the WLTP combined cycle and even more in 100% urban driving.
GC : The V-Class is a central model in our offer. It is popular with families for sightseeing and is very popular with companies for business trips. The EQV offers the same habitability as the V-Class while having a considerable advantage for passengers: silence! This unique feature will make it even more appreciated and lets us anticipate a strong demand from our clients.
Will there be an operational difference?
JC-A : The EQV can be recharged from 10 to 80% in just 45 minutes on a high-speed terminal and between 6.30 and 9.30 am on a wallbox. A whole ecosystem makes your life easier. The chauffeur can modulate the degree of engine power (4 modes) and use the steering wheel paddles to manage the 5 recovery modes. In addition, the MBUX multimedia system allows, thanks to the EQ menu, to choose the ideal route to the terminals or to display, on the 10.25-inch screen, for example, the histogram of energy flow and consumption. The MBUX can also be operated by voice with the simple command “Hey, Mercedes”. Finally, the chauffeur can enter his departure time, set the desired interior temperature, etc. on his Mercedes Me Charge app from home.
GC : The vehicle’s range is very well adapted to urban and even peri-urban use. For long distances, we will use thermal models (while compensating for emissions, as for the rest of our fleet). The need to load vehicles imposes equipment constraints but we believe that the benefit to our customers and the planet is well worth it. Finally, we have planned specific training modules for electric driving, to optimise its autonomy, while improving passenger comfort.
To conclude, how do you see the mobility of the future?
JC-A : The transport of people and merchandise will become increasingly complex in cities. To support professionals, we already offer – in addition to the EQV – the eVito, the eSprinter and the eVito Tourer. With the next generation of Citan, 100% of our van range will also be available in electric. Finally, our parent company has just announced an investment of 350 million euros in the versatile electric platform of the future eSprinter, which will be ideal for a wide range of activities, from vans to shuttles and chassis-based bodies.
GC: Mobility has evolved considerably in recent years and will continue to be a fantastic breeding ground for innovation. The future of mobility will be digital, provided that technology improves the passenger experience, open to several modes of travel, as customers want to use the transport that is best suited to their needs, at a particular time and place, and environmentally friendly. These developments are at the heart of our strategy.
More information about the EQV
* Updated on 10 August 2021: To date, the Chabé park has 14 EQVs
