Mercedes-Benz is finally getting into the attainable electric-vehicle game with the B-Class Electric Drive, a compact Benz with a 115-mile range, a four-hour charge time and a price considerably cheaper than the awesome all-electric gullwing supercar. Even better, U.S. consumers get it before anyone else.
The B-Class is a popular compact across the pond, but the introduction of the awkwardly named B-Class E.D. (insert Viagra joke here) marks the first time Mercedes will sell the five-door hatchback in the states. When it goes on sale next year, the electric version will be the only B-Class variant available.
In typical EV-retrofit fashion – see also Mitsubishi iMiEV, Ford Focus Electric, etc. – Mercedes took an existing platform, ripped out the conventional drivetrain and installed an electric motor and a battery. Mercedes says the B-Class Electric Drive is good for more than 100 kilowatts (around 135 horsepower), with maximum torque – nearly 230 pound-feet – available the instant you hit the pedal. That's enough grunt to get this sucker up to 100 mph – Benz won't let you go any faster – while hitting 0-60 mph in "considerably less than 10 seconds."
That's another way of saying "eventually."
Mercedes is just as vague with battery capacity and charge times, claiming the B-Class can add an additional 60 miles of range in less than two hours when plugged into a 240-volt outlet. A little back-of-the-napkin math suggests that the lithium-ion battery pack is in the neighborhood of 30 kilowatt-hours, making it about 20-percent bigger than the pack in the Nissan Leaf. Given that Daimler owns a 4.7-percent stake in Tesla Motors, the batteries surely will be developed with help from the guys in Silicon Valley.
This being the .car era, Mercedes is also touting the B-Class' connectivity, which includes an embedded data connection that allows owners to check battery and charge status via their computer or smartphone. There's the usual assortment of infotainment tech, including the Comand Online system with navigation and voice control, both available as optional extras.
Mercedes says sales will begin next year, but hasn't outlined exactly when you can get it or how much you'll pay for it. Nor is Mercedes saying whether it will be offered for sale or as a lease-only deal like we've seen with Mini and BMW. But considering that the Smart ForTwo Electric Drive – also developed in conjunction with Tesla – can be had for around $25,000, it's safe to assume that you'll be able to snag the new B-Class for somewhere in the mid-$30,000 range – a steal compared to the $500,000+ SLS Electric.
All Photos: Courtesy of Mercedes-Benz
