Mercedes-Benz B-Class Electric Drive in Geneva - Powered by Tesla
We now have a clear view of the plug-in vehicles from Mercedes-Benz that are US-bound in the near future.
First up for the US is the Mercedes-Benz B-Class Electric Drive, a BEV that's set to launch in select states this summer:
“…B-Class ED will be available starting summer 2014 at authorized Mercedes-Benz dealers in select states — CA, CT, MD, OR, NJ, NY, RI and VT — and then nationwide in early 2015.”
Basic B Class ED specs:
- 0 to 62 mph in 7.9 seconds
- 28 kWh battery pack
- Range ~ 90 miles
- 174 hp
- 228 pound feet of torque
- Top speed 100 mph
- 10 kW charging capability
- Price tag “in the low $40s”
Then we have the Mercedes-Benz S Class S500 Plug-In Hybrid. This is scheduled to go on sale in the US during the first half of 2015. We suspect Mercedes will offer this on the nationwide level.
S500 PHEV specs (note: quoted fuel economy and range values are based on the fairy tale NEDC test cycle):
- Fuel consumption of 3 liters/100 km (78.4 US mpg)
- Emits only 69 g/km of CO2
- Turbocharged 3.0-liter V6 engine rated at 328 hp and 354 pound- feet of torque
- Electric motor adds 107 hp and 251 pound-feet of torque
- Top speed 155 mph
- 0 to 62 mph in 5.5 seconds
- Electric-only range 18.6 miles
All-New Mercedes-Benz C-Class - PHEV Version Coming Soon
Lastly, at least in the near term, is the plug-in hybrid C-Class.
Few details are known at this time, other than that it will enter the production cycle sometime in 2015 and will launch in the US by late 2015. It'll be a 2016 Model Year vehicle when it goes on sale in the US.
For now, that's all we see in the pipeline for Mercedes-Benz in the plug-in vehicle segment.
