wow. Kyle is NOT in a sweater in 90 degree weather?? What is this world coming to!?? 🤣

@markfitzpatrick6692

11 күн бұрын

I know I love he is wearing a t shirt and the coast to coast t shirt

@777Outrigger

11 күн бұрын

Yesterday, Jul 7th, we got down to 48F in Evergreen, Co at 8000'. I wore a small jacket yesterday.

@LarsDennert

11 күн бұрын

Hoody...

@jmp622

11 күн бұрын

The heat does not slow down his run-on and TMI story telling 🙃

@jmp622

11 күн бұрын

Why review this?

As a Colorado resident I would enjoy seeing more EV testing on mountain roads. One of the biggest surprises I’ve had owning an EV is how well they do in the mountains.

@michaelsmithers4900

8 күн бұрын

Way better for driving down the mountains as the brakes don’t heat up as the energy goes back into the battery as you come down

I am really empressed on how well this made it up that climb for a cargo van. Ev makes it even more impressive. This is setting a new bar and will be a great delivery van.

Testing an electric van? woop-dee-doo. 1 hour later: That was AMAZEBALLS! Great choice of music near the summit, too. Kudos to the editor. I went to that observatory as a kid. Great times.

You should have a Mount Blue Sky test for every electric vehicle from now on! That was awesome!!

@EricMarschner

11 күн бұрын

It will be closed all next year for repaving unfortunately... but it will reopen eventually.

@michaelsmithers4900

8 күн бұрын

Well maybe Pikes Peak can fill in at around 100’ less…

What, no hooded sweatshirt?!! I feel a disturbance in The Force! Love your team. Thank you.

Party in the front, recuperation in the rear

23:52 This moment when a Mercedes Sprinter van has a digital rear view mirror and the cybertruck not lol

@evan010101

11 күн бұрын

And dealt with the mountain driving better!

@MarsPLAYStudio

11 күн бұрын

@@evan010101 tbf, the Cybertruck was carrying a heavier load and weights more combined with the Rivian and trailer than the Mercedes with the water tank here

@alanmay7929

11 күн бұрын

@@MarsPLAYStudio the tesla has at least two electric motors that are significantly way more powerful than the mercedes van, the tesla has heat pump and all other kinds of more advanced electronics so technically the tesla shouldnt have struggled. the mercedes is also significantly way less aerodynamic and doesnt have air suspensions to drop down for even better aerodynamics too.

I once took a rental Ford Taurus wagon to the top of Mt Evans, and on the way down I literally melted the hubcaps and burnt the brake fluid. Had to have the brake fluids changed the following day.

Lol. The Jeep guys seeing a Sprinter on their turf, followed by a mommy wagon🧐

Full load, highest road in the US, full throttle, full regen - never even limited the power or the regen and got great efficiency. Im impressed, this van exceeds the diesels and could replace them in most use cases

Epic test, epic views, fantastic van. For me one of the best OOS videos ever.

47:55 Electrifying things like airport shuttles can have an impact much easier and cheaper than any electric semi. It just makes sense to electrify things that are slow and don't travel far. You don't need a megawatt charger either... It might not be cool, but it is awesome.

@davidbrayshaw3529

11 күн бұрын

We should be using the batteries that we're using in cars for stationary storage, first. Use the batteries for 24 hours per day rather than 1. And use the batteries for the benefit of everyone, not just those that live in congested cities.

@wastenotwantnot5953

10 күн бұрын

@@davidbrayshaw3529 Good point, and you can even do both. Bidirectional charging is something that could be massively beneficial. Seeing vehicles that don't go far or fast get

@davidbrayshaw3529

10 күн бұрын

@@wastenotwantnot5953 It will be interesting to see how far we can get with bi-directional charging. There has been a successful trial conducted in Australia, recently, so we know that we can match the phase of the grid. How efficient that is, I don't know. I'm guessing around 80%. The big question is in scaling and whether automotive batteries are up to the task. Interestingly the Cyber Truck comes with a warning that the battery warrantee will be voided if the vehicle is used for "extended" (whatever that means) periods as a stationary storage device. Clearly there are question marks over the longevity of those 4680 cells, I would suggest.

@wastenotwantnot5953

10 күн бұрын

@@davidbrayshaw3529 interesting, I hadn't heard about that with the cybertruck

@davidbrayshaw3529

10 күн бұрын

@@wastenotwantnot5953 That little revelation was on a Louis Rossman upload, other day. The still not crash test rated Cyber Truck won't warranty one of the very things that it advertises. And Tesla stock is rallying.

I was more impressed with the cyclist. I saw rolling down from the summit after climbing up there with no electric power!

@iMaxPatten

10 күн бұрын

no regen either 😢

@paulas_lens

10 күн бұрын

They are the REAL GOATS

I bet a gas van would be a SLUG at that elevation too.

Great content, nicely presented. Stunning images. I lived in Winter Park for three years. I do miss those mountains.

When I saw the video was an hour long, I thought it was in a real time video driving to the top of pikes peak. ( mt blue was a surprise ). But, as usual, far more entertaining. PS. Kyle has arms. ;-)

Something was off this in video and I couldn't working out and just clicked! Kyle in T-shirt!!!!

Really good video! Thought a lot of effort was put into the editing of this one so well done and it was nice to see Kyle in merch

Kyle looking like a retiree in his Sprinter doing a road trip

How to say you're from Colorado, without saying you're from Colorado? "We are at 6000 feet, wow, so low".

No guardrails. Colorado says: "Pay attention and turn the damn corner on your own!" :)

@mowcowbell

11 күн бұрын

No, there were guardrails there until the stupid Texans smashed into them.

actually, as you get higher in elevation, air resistance is reduced, so you potentially have MORE power in an EV at 14,000'!!!

@michaelsmithers4900

8 күн бұрын

And less power in an ICE vehicle as they can’t get enough O2.

One of the best OOS video’s ever. Plus a history lesson…..can’t get any better.

This was the perfect place to make an hour-long van video...

It would be awesome to have an electric conversion van. Fill the roof with solar to camp days without worrying about draining main battery. Can not wait for rhe future of e-van campers. Maybe 3rd iteration. First will be CRAZY expensive.😂

@rickrasco

9 күн бұрын

What are your thoughts regarding first generation of e van campers "crazyexpensive" compared to current options

@_Hao_Nguyen_

9 күн бұрын

@@rickrasco first of anything is expensive and buggy! I wait for 2nd & 3rd iteration on most things before buying. I dont think they make e camper conversion vans yet, but current camper van (one Kyle has) is like $150K. It's cool but over the price I want to pay for.

After watching the race to Vegas, I'm more impressed the EV9 got to the top. Nice work, Max!

Love your videos. I have a video suggestion...compare same size, same season EV specific tires and also vs non-ev specific tires. Noise, rolling resistance, energy used, etc. I know it's a time-consuming video to make, but NOBODY has done the video yet. Tirerack tried a high-level video recently, but they didn't get into the weeds on energy consumption, etc. Thanks, and keep the great videos coming. You are my go-to source. :)

Great reviews of the Mercedes eSprinter. It's taken them long enough to start putting realistic size Battery packs in them. But they are finally becoming usable, for distance travel...

A little out of spec-history about Mt. Blue Sky.

I haven’t really been paying attention to Mercedes for a bit, besides the A class hatch nothing interests me from them, but watching this Sprinter series and the race to Las Vegas that just went up damn I’m impressed

@MrRicearonie

11 күн бұрын

Oh, and because I’m in the US I can’t even get the A class hatch :/

@bullshitbingo2259

11 күн бұрын

Luckily next year the Mercedes CLA coupe with 800V-architecture will be introduced in the same size class as the the Model 3 and it's going to be amazing.

@alanmay7929

11 күн бұрын

lol.... mercedes has literaly all kinds of vehicles you can think off, from those small a class the gwagen, the sprinter( van pickup truck single/double cab....), the unimog, 6x6, 8x8 trucks and all kinds of configurations you can think of.

@MrRicearonie

10 күн бұрын

@@alanmay7929 oh of course, but for as long as I can remember I’d rather have something from their competitors so I haven’t paid attention to Mercedes too closely. Although your right, the Unimog is sick

Cant wait to have these as Camper Vans as well. My current one is still an ICE.

Great video. Would like to see slightly more compact sizes (slightly shorter, slightly less length), with more ground clearance, AWD, more affordable - from more manufacturers.

50:00 RE brake lights on EVs @TechnologyConnections made a great video about this issue a year ago, and i am very surprised that this is still an issue. my perspective - in regen - when the vehicle is no longer coasting, the brake lights NEED to come on.

@Cowcow211

11 күн бұрын

The EU has mandated this since 2023.

@brandti1367

11 күн бұрын

"No longer coasting" can be quite a large rage. Seeing brake lights should catch your attention, so they should only come on when the vehicle is actually decelerating (not just one-pedal-driving down a slight hill with near constant speed). The EU mandates that they have to come on when decelerating more than 1.3 m/s² and may come on below that (with no lower limit unfortunately). This is a deceleration that would bring you to a stop from 96 km/h (60 mph) within 273 m (300 yards), which is no hard braking at all.

aqua is my absolute favorite color so i love the color of this van

You've got a fan in me, keep 'em coming!

I can’t believe that a Sprinter run is your most beautiful video. What a gorgeous landscape and the weather played along perfectly. Well done guys! Must have been so fun! Wish I was there to help film.

You really love this van!

Brake lights sooner to prevent rear end collisons

There's the TFLTruck video with this van (exact one maybe?) and then there's an OutOfSpec and crew video. Holy hell, I'm here for it!!

I remember when I went there. Got out of the car at the summit and fell into the side of the car because of how thin the air was

@zachlafond2652

11 күн бұрын

Same. Came from low elevation (600 feet) and drove right up to the top and about passed out. Didn't stay long. Also my car had almost no power up there. I coasted most of the way back down (5 speed manual).

this was very informative for my exact use case for an electric van. Thank you very much.

Well, we know EV range and charging speed is great in the summer, what would really be important is how much range it would eat up to go from Denver airport to Vail/A-basin during winter storm.

Wow. For 2024 EV 7% regen recoup over 14 miles is good. Steep decline, but good, still. Yay Mercedes. Now just make sure the break lights come on when the vehicle slows down. 😊

Excellent test boys!

amazing place and thank you

I want to see this and the rivian van attempt a race to vegas. That would be epic!

@iforpowell7390

10 күн бұрын

But this would beet the Rivian by hours and hours. The race videos are only good if it's going to be close.

I’m so glad you made the point about weight not being that relevant on the flat. Once up to speed “an object in motion tends to stay in motion” so you only need to add energy to overcome rolling resistance and as you said, to a greater degree wind resistance. That’s also why I’d like to see towing tests at lower speeds. That’s what the slow lane is for and usually the trailers are only rated for 55mph anyway… I think 60mph should be the standard for highway truck towing. IMHO

You should be sponsored by mercedes, that was just awesome 👏

Ok Kyle you need to buy one and get a really great RV conversion and do some awesome road trips, thats what we call viewership excitement!

Pretty awesome test and results!

Woooo looking forward to this one!

Always come to your vids for the sick synth B-Roll music! Great review.

Great video, like you guys always do! One thing I don't hear more details about is the source of the interior climate. Meaning, is it using a heating element for warmth and "traditional" compressor system for the air conditioning, or have EV's gone to a "heat pump"? I know that the EV9 uses a heat pump, at least as a heat source or will it work like a residential mini-split that can provide hot & cold air? And what are the limits for using a heat pump; basically max outdoor low temp. The lowest residential setup is now around zero and still produce heat. Thanks

Was just to the top of Mt Blue Sky in a Lexus, been up that road 4-5 times, but think I have had enough of the drop off etc. Really great to see the video, and I take my hat off to you to do it in a fully loaded van....... that road is not that wide!

58:07 Right.... Drive that slow on flat ground and see what the efficiency is.

Great efficiency.

Keep that route in your itinerary for future vehicle tests. Thanks for the video. And I love the colour of that van. ;-)

THIS VAN IS INSANE! what the hell 52% at the top?

I wonder what the limiting factor is on my model 3 LFP, it limits regen pretty quickly doing long descents. Side note, it is sad how many mountains used to have restaurants or hotels, and even rail lines up to them in the US. In Europe there would definitely still be some refreshments at the top.

Wonderful view.

Still wants to see BYD comparisons 🤔🤷‍♀️✌🏻

I drove my original Honda Insight up Mt. Blue Sky in 2005 on my honeymoon, only to park next to a crazy car that I thought had 32 cylinders. Turns out, it was a Bugatti Veyron being tested, 16 cylinders. Two awesome cars, would have made for great OOS content.

Just need to keep that tote with you so you can fill it up whenever you get to the top of a mountain pass for better efficiency on the way down xD

My Walmart delivery came in an electric Ford Transit Connect.

imo the towing loop you use would be more challenging for commercial vehicles fully loaded, so run them just the same as ur towing loop, just with payload vs a trailer, it feels like it would be more realistic/challenging than just driving straight up and down the same road.

Would've been interesting with OBD data during the test

Wow that as really cool.

More tests whit max weight and that route.

One of my complaints with the R1T is the poor regen. My Bolt does a much better job at regen & returning range. (very helpful in a 2017 Bolt!)

20:42 - You need different terminology as "wide open throttle" (WOT in your mechanical engineering class) refers to an engine that has air moving through a throttle body or carburetor with a butterfly valve controlling the airflow (and hence the air breathing engine power output).

@showoe3126

11 күн бұрын

there are plenty of common terms from the older version of something, we still say diesel ships are "sailing" after all.

@paulas_lens

10 күн бұрын

Kyle turned the knob all the way to ELEVEN! :D ;)

Even the sky looks a little darker at the top

Thanks for the video! After the epic Silverado, I hope GM does an Express EV. My wife drives a passenger Express that's been converted to be wheelchair accessible. It would be awesome to have an electric one. Or just see more passenger van variants on the market (I imagine they'd be a hit with livery companies).

I think towing and hauling up hill record the energy used and when you come down record the energy gained. Trucks and vans.

Nice

47:57 They need to make a passenger version of the eSprinter for this purpose since they already have EQV, but you wouldn't like that because it is FWD. There is also a #Klassen edition of the EQV that you should try the next time you are in Germany. For higher capacity services they have eCitaro line-up.

I would LOVE it if you guys could test in Arizona going up and down between Phoenix and Flagstaff on I-17 and then also up and down on 89 between Phoenix and Happy Jack (via Payson). Spring/Fall AND Summer data would be SO AWESOME to see.

I love the color. I ordered the egolf in „Pfauengrün“. Before they cancelled Black rubin. VW was going „Gray“ only. It ended in blue atlantic metallic. So give color a chance.

Kyle's "Hello and welcome" occurs at 2:45 meaning that the meat of this video is finally just barely under one hour total. I knew he could do it! ;-)

Were you able to discern what DRIVE mode would allow for Brake Lights during ReGen?

Why does Mercedes and Ford not have the passenger vans available yet; just the cargo vans? My SIL has 6 kids; they have literally no options for EV's period... Need 12 passenger van options.

Get the rivian, gm, Ford and the merc and then compare.

That tee shirt looks good

Ram was not impressed 😂

Good to know I can Doordash 2,600 lbs of Jersey Mikes up Mt Evans!!

If you wanted to vanlife this thing could you use the main battery to power your living area? Could you charge the pack off solar. That roof could hold a nice array especially if you had extra panels extend out as shade canopies…

My anxiety watching those sheer turns with no guardrails. 😬

40:00 me too lol

I guess I missed it, but since this is rear drive, did Mercedes make a frunk? I know most of their EVs don't have an accessible hood, but for a van meant for cargo, I'd assume front storage would be a no-brainer.

Kyle, isn’t the ID Buzz passenger rated and that has a van version? 😎😇

@Knnnkncht

11 күн бұрын

Yes and Mercedes EQV also

If you fill the rest of the water tank with ping pong balls you'll get less sloshing.

That's higher than you're allowed to fly without supplemental oxygen.

Should test with and without cargo.

Hyundai Ioniq 5 also failed on proper brake light activation when regen was deployed, they fixed it and Mercedes should also fix it.

Tan line is still there.

Great production value! Doesn’t the window roll down all the way?

@Knnnkncht

11 күн бұрын

He didnt roll it down because of the gopro Sticked to it, of course it can

This vehicle defies physics. I'm confused as heck.

Highest restaurant in the world, on that mountain? Not. There are plenty of full service "tea House" restaurants at 5000 m elevation, 16,500 feet, on the trail to Mount Everest Basecamp

You high af!

Take same route kia ev9, rivian r1s compare to sprinter