Mercedes-Benz will present a new addition to its family of electric vehicles at this month’s Paris Motor Show – an all-electric Concept B-Class Electric Drive.
Similarly to the B-Class models with combustion engines, the battery-powered Concept B-Class Electric Drive also combines a comfortable and enjoyable driving experience with full suitability for everyday and family use.
The so-called Energy Space in the floor of the vehicle in front of the rear axle ensures that the concept vehicle offers the same generous and variable space inside as the current series production models. The Energy Space provides a safe and space-saving means of accommodating the powerful lithium-ion battery which also has a positive effect on the vehicle’s centre of gravity.
The Concept B-Class Electric Drive is equipped with a 100 kW electric motor whose powerful 310 Newton meters of torque provide for attractive driving dynamics over a range of 200 kilometers (124 miles). The battery can be charged at any standard domestic 230 V power outlet or alternatively – with rapid charging function – at a 400 V high-voltage terminal.
In the B-Class, Mercedes-Benz has at its disposal an extremely versatile car which is suitable for the most diverse types of drive – from combustion engines through battery-powered drives to the fuel cell. Thanks to Energy Space, the B-Class is the ultimate all-rounder and the Mercedes trailblazer for alternative drives in the compact premium automobile segment. The particularly family-friendly electric car from Mercedes-Benz is almost ready for series production, with the market launch already planned for 2014.
The Paris Motor Show will also feature the world premieres of the production versions of the Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG Coupé Electric Drive and the smart BRABUS electric drive. These new electric cars in three different vehicle categories from Mercedes-Benz, Mercedes-AMG and smart demonstrate once again Daimler’s rigorous pursuit of its drive strategy focusing on the ultimate objective of zero-emission driving. Along with optimized combustion engines and hybridization tailored to prevailing needs, the focus is on battery-powered electric drives and the fuel cell.
