Mercedes-Benz premiered the new B-Class Electric Drive at this week’s New York International Auto Show. The introduction of the Electric Drive puts Mercedes squarely into the mix of other all electric vehicles, such as the Leaf and Focus.
The B-Class Electric Drive is not a large auto, but it should be attractive to high-end car buyers looking to go green. The Electric Drive powertrain produces a respectable 135 hp, and can get you up to 100 mph. You’ll go 0 to 60 in about 10 seconds. Again, nothing to challenge the electric Tesla, but sufficient for most drivers. On a full charge, the B-Class Electric Drive can travel about 115 miles.
The folks at Mercedes have applied their talents to make a comfortable and attractive little car. They also brought some cutting edge technology to the auto by making it fully networked. Remote checking and remote configuration of the vehicle are conveniently available via a website. A driver can easily access his vehicle via the internet, using a PC or smartphone, where he or she can check the current charge status of the lithium-ion battery or to verify the vehicle’s current range on a map.
No pricing has been released, but look for the Mercedes-Benz B-Class Electric Drive in spring 2014.
