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• Mercedes-Benz first volume electric car
• Battery range of 230km
• Two specs – Sport and Electric Art
STUTTGART, Germany - The first volume production electric car by Mercedes-Benz – the B-Class Electric Drive (e-drive), has been made available to order in Europe ahead of its official launch in 2015.
The B-Class has a claimed battery range of about 230km and can accelerate to 00km/h in 7.9 seconds.
‘FASTEST’ FIVE-SEAT EV
According to Mercedes: “Thanks to Tesla-developed technology, the B-Class Electric Drive is the fastest-accelerating five-seat electric car in its class as well as the most powerful and has the greatest theoretical range on a single charge.”
IMAGE GALLERY: 2015 Mercedes-Benz B-Class Electric Drive
The Sport version has unique bumpers (front and rear), 17” alloy rims, diode lights, a 17cm central display, special trim, auto aircon, a reversing camera and cruise control.
The Electric Art derivative adds contrasting external mirrors and grille elements, 18” dual-colour alloy rims, contrast blue stitching for the seats and aluminium trim.
Charging the B-Class EV is achieved through a wall box or public charging station. Using a fast-charge cable, Mercedes-Benz says, “that should take three to four hours” to full charge. A conventional domestic electric supply raises the recharge time to nine hours.
ENERGY ASSIST PACKAGE
The B-Class ED can be equipped with an optional extra energy package that includes adaptive energy recuperation systems which uses radar to detect road conditions. When traffic is identified the car makes the most of declerative charging.
It can use signals from the automaker’s Comand system (when specified) to read the topography of the road ahead and adapt accordingly. The automaker comments: “The driver can override the regenerative cycle via paddles behind the steering wheel to alter the level of retardation – reducing the likelihood of any energy being wasted.”
The package also adds tinted glass, heatable windscreen, increased insulation and a ‘Range Plus’ button for occasional use, adding extra range to the battery. The car will emit a subtle but audible signal at up to 30km/h to warn pedestrians of its presence.
The B-Class Electric Drive will be sold in the UK for the equivalent of R564 000 for the Sport model and R570 000 for the Electric Art. A UK low exhaust-emission grant of R88 000 might be applied to reduce the price to R476 000 and R481 000 for the Sport and Electric Art respectively.
• Battery range of 230km
• Two specs – Sport and Electric Art
STUTTGART, Germany - The first volume production electric car by Mercedes-Benz – the B-Class Electric Drive (e-drive), has been made available to order in Europe ahead of its official launch in 2015.
The B-Class has a claimed battery range of about 230km and can accelerate to 00km/h in 7.9 seconds.
‘FASTEST’ FIVE-SEAT EV
According to Mercedes: “Thanks to Tesla-developed technology, the B-Class Electric Drive is the fastest-accelerating five-seat electric car in its class as well as the most powerful and has the greatest theoretical range on a single charge.”
IMAGE GALLERY: 2015 Mercedes-Benz B-Class Electric Drive
The Sport version has unique bumpers (front and rear), 17” alloy rims, diode lights, a 17cm central display, special trim, auto aircon, a reversing camera and cruise control.
The Electric Art derivative adds contrasting external mirrors and grille elements, 18” dual-colour alloy rims, contrast blue stitching for the seats and aluminium trim.
Charging the B-Class EV is achieved through a wall box or public charging station. Using a fast-charge cable, Mercedes-Benz says, “that should take three to four hours” to full charge. A conventional domestic electric supply raises the recharge time to nine hours.
ENERGY ASSIST PACKAGE
The B-Class ED can be equipped with an optional extra energy package that includes adaptive energy recuperation systems which uses radar to detect road conditions. When traffic is identified the car makes the most of declerative charging.
It can use signals from the automaker’s Comand system (when specified) to read the topography of the road ahead and adapt accordingly. The automaker comments: “The driver can override the regenerative cycle via paddles behind the steering wheel to alter the level of retardation – reducing the likelihood of any energy being wasted.”
The package also adds tinted glass, heatable windscreen, increased insulation and a ‘Range Plus’ button for occasional use, adding extra range to the battery. The car will emit a subtle but audible signal at up to 30km/h to warn pedestrians of its presence.
The B-Class Electric Drive will be sold in the UK for the equivalent of R564 000 for the Sport model and R570 000 for the Electric Art. A UK low exhaust-emission grant of R88 000 might be applied to reduce the price to R476 000 and R481 000 for the Sport and Electric Art respectively.
