Mercedes-Benz is doing its bit to help hard-pressed van operators cut their running costs, by launching a fleet of super-efficient demonstrator vehicles fitted with innovative fuel-saving devices.

No fewer than 50 new Mercedes Sprinter ECO-Start vans with eye-catching dedicated graphics have been sent out around the UK – there’s at least one at every Mercedes-Benz van dealer in the country – so customers can see at first hand how this simple yet effective system can help slash both fuel costs and exhaust emissions.

ECO-Start can drastically reduce fuel bills, and a van’s impact on the environment, by the simple expedient of cutting the engine while the vehicle is stationary. Tests by independent journalists on an early version of the system recorded fuel savings of ten per cent and more over a standard Sprinter

It works by stopping the engine whenever the vehicle stays still for more than two seconds, then automatically starting again when the driver depresses the clutch pedal. For multi-drop delivery operations or any work that involves regular driving through busy town and city centres, or in heavy traffic, the potential savings are significant.

The system is engineered to ensure component life matches a standard vehicle; it features an uprated starter motor and uses increased battery and alternator capacity to ensure reliability in all operating conditions. When activated ECO-Start will only operate once the engine is up to normal operating temperature, and if the driver selects neutral and lifts off the clutch pedal while stationary.

ECO-Start is available now on all new Sprinters with four-cylinder engines and manual gearboxes.

“Of course, the amount of fuel that ECO-Start can save on any one journey depends on many factors,” says Steve Bridge, Mercedes-Benz Van Sales & Marketing Director. “Traffic conditions, vehicle specification, load weight and driving style can all influence fuel consumption.

“However, we are confident that for most operators whose work is largely in an urban environment, the system can produce a significant reduction in fuel consumption. Using less fuel also cuts down the amount of exhaust gas produced. And, as a fringe benefit, most drivers find it much more relaxing to have the engine off, rather than idling, when they are stuck in traffic or at the lights.”

The ECO-Start system itself retails at just £155, but also requires an uprated battery and alternator which brings the total cost of the package to £545.

“This represents excellent value for money,” says Russell Walden, Van Council Chairman for the Mercedes-Benz UK commercial vehicle dealer network. “Even using conservative figures of an annual 20,000 miles at 25mpg per vehicle and a saving of six per cent, it means the system could pay for itself well inside two years and go on to deliver real cash savings after that. And that payback period will only get shorter if fuel costs continue to rise.”

Russell is also Dealer Principal of south coast dealership group Pentagon, which recently won a breakthrough order for 20 ECO-Start Sprinters from a leading distributor and wholesaler of pharmaceutical, medical, health and beauty products.