Mercedes Presents Its First Extended Range EV
By Scott Doggett September 14, 2011
Mercedes-Benz is presented its first range-extending electric vehicle (think Chevy Volt) at the 2011 Frankfurt Auto Show on Tuesday. The plug-in hybrid (PHEV) Concept B-Class E-Cell Plus is a five-seat compact hatchback that uses a gasoline-engine and a lithium-ion battery pack to provide 60 miles of electric-only driving before the 3-cylinder engine starts up, enabling another 300 miles of range before refueling. Mercedes said the concept compact provides a foretaste of a series that will go into production in 2014. The B-Class PHEV powertrain has peak power output of 134 horsepower, and a continuous output 94 hp via the 67 hp gasoline engine.
The gas engine performs a dual role: At low speeds (up to 18 mph), it charges the battery via a generator; at higher speeds (freeway, for example) it additionally serves as a driving engine, acting on the front wheels together with the electric motor via a newly developed automatic transmission. Mercedes claims the vehicle can reach 60 miles per hour from a standstill in about 11 seconds and has a top speed of 78 mph. The battery, which is produced by Deutsche Accumotive, a joint venture of Daimler and Evonik, can be charged using any standard domestic power outlet or at a public charging station. Mercedes said that "when the car goes into production," the driver will be able to check on the vehicle's current state of charge through the Internet using a personal computer or a smartphone. Safety features include blind spot assist, lane keeping assist, speed limit assist, and a hill-hold function.
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