The costs of running the EV are "on par" with those of running a diesel van, Mercedes said. This is more about reducing emissions than trimming costs. Having said that, there are situations where it could both save cash and the planet. As cities like London often have congestion charges in key areas, couriers could operate downtown without racking up charges.

This and other versions of the Sprinter also promise to be the first truly connected models. You could restock a van by ordering parts while you're still in the van, for example, while fleet managers could keep tabs on their vehicles. A camper van edition, meanwhile promises creature comforts you're probably not used to in the wild -- you could use your smartphone to heat up the van when you're returning from a ski trip.

Mercedes expects to release the eSprinter sometime in 2019, although we wouldn't expect a US release right away. That's to be announced, according to the automaker. However long the rollout takes, it could be important even if you never take the wheel. Especially in Europe, Sprinter vans are everywhere. If a significant number of those are electric, that represents a significant reduction in urban pollution and noise.