2015 Mercedes-Benz B-Class Electric Drive Sports Tesla Power and Summer Release
http://www.plugincars.com/41450-mercedes-small-ev-takes-bmw-i3-129701.html Mercedes Sets $41,450 Price for Small EV, To Match BMW By Brad Berman · April 29, 2014 [image http://www.plugincars.com/sites/default/files/2014-merceds-b-class-ed-620.jpg 2014 Mercedes B-Class Electric Drive ] At this very moment, the only luxury pure electric car on the market is the Tesla Model S, which has a base price between $70,000 and $93,400. But that will change in a matter of months, when two new small luxury EVs enter the scene—the Mercedes B-Class Electric Drive and BMW i3. Yesterday, Mercedes announced a base price of $41,450 for its electric car. It’s not a coincidence that its price is nearly identical to the BMW i3. In its press materials, Mercedes lists the i3 as its “main competitor.” With the price announcement, luxury car buyers who want an electric car—but not interested in the Model S’s full-size dimensions and price—can now pit two well appointed but more affordable EVs against one another. Well-heeled buyers who previously accepted the relatively humdrum interior quality provided by Japanese or American models, can step back up to German refinement. Judging from my brief time behind the wheel of both cars, they will equally deliver the high level of handling and comfort expected from a BMW or Mercedes. Buyers will need to consider two main factors that separate the two choices: styling and the availability of a range-extending gas engine. Whereas the B-Class uses a small car platform that will feel right at home in a Mercedes dealership, BMW produced a quirky carbon-fiber exterior design that hardly feels like a Bimmer. Discriminating buyers will have to make a decision whether or not they like the somewhat stubby futuristic look of the BMW i3. Some will and some won’t. But the transition to the electric Mercedes B-Class will be easier—mostly a downshift to a smaller than usual Mercedes vehicle with a hatchback. (Besides, Mercedes sales staff can point to the Tesla-sourced powertrain as a compelling point of distinction.) It remains to be seen how sales of the BMW i3 will be sustained after the most enthusiastic early adopters receive their cars. The iconoclastic visual design, and barn door treatment, might be a hit or it could prove to be a problem; however, one of BMW’s innovations—the availability of a range-extending gas engine that essentially doubles driving range and allows for quick refueling—more than compensates for any stylistic misgivings, even as it adds about $4,000 to the cost. Mercedes, like a lot of other car companies, likes to use the “no compromise” message in its marketing. But 85 miles of range expected from the B-Class Electric Drive is a real limitation. The i3 with the range-extender, while adding some level of internal combustion, removes those range concerns. Luxury buyers want a beautiful car—not necessarily one that looks as Buck Rogers as the i3. Yet, at the end of the day, range has more impact on the practical daily experience of drivers. That gives an advantage to the i3 over the Mercedes small EV. Nonetheless, the fact that this choice exists at all is great for electric car buyers—one more sign that the market for zero emissions battery-powered vehicles is on the rise. [© plugincars.com] http://www.automedia.com/Blog/post/2015-mercedes-benz-b-class-electric-drive-sports-tesla-power-and-summer-release.aspx 2015 Mercedes-Benz B-Class Electric Drive Sports Tesla Power and Summer Release by Ryan ZumMallen 04.29.2014 [image slideshow flash] Mercedes-Benz will launch their first all-electric car in the United States this summer, when the 2015 B-Class Electric Drive goes on sale this summer with a $42,375 base price. The B-Class has become very popular in Europe, but this is the first EV version of the car, and the first time it will make its way stateside. At the core of the B-Class Electric Drive is an electric motor and electric drive system couple with high-performance lithium-ion batteries. Mercedes tapped none other than Tesla to develop the powertrain, which produces 177 horsepower (132 kW) and 251 lb.-ft of torque (340 Nm) and a 0-60mph sprint in about 7.9 seconds. Perhaps most important for prospective buyers, the B-Class Electric Drive will boast 85 EPA-rated miles of range and can charge from empty to 60 miles of range in less than two hours on a standard 240V plug. Inside, Mercedes-Benz promises the same quality standard that have made them a go-to brand for U.S. luxury buyers. Because the battery pack is stored under the floor of the car, the B-Class does not lose its roominess with a maximum 51.42 cu. ft. of space. A 5.8-inch color display with navigation is standard, and an interactive graphic displays how much electric power is being used at the moment. The B-Class Electric Drive can also be connected online to allow owners to set controls and monitor settings through the Internet – either on a computer or smartphone. Interested customers will be quick to compare the B-Class Electric Drive to the new BMW i3, as well as established electric stalwarts like the Chevrolet Volt and Nissan Leaf. Compared to the B-Class Electric Drive, the Leaf has similar range at about 85 miles, the i3 tops that with 99 miles, and the Volt offers 35 miles of electric range but comes with a motor that boosts total range to more than 380 miles. The likely selling point for the B-Class Electric Drive is the luxury of a Mercedes without any emissions. While the BMW i3 took an eco-conscious route for its interior, Mercedes seems to have stuck with traditionally luxurious leathers and woods for theirs. Time will tell which suits customers better, and we look forward to testing the new E-Benz very soon. [© 2014 autoMedia.com] http://www.thestreet.com/story/12686540/1/driving-the-mercedes-electric-car-all-for-4237500.html Driving the Mercedes Electric Car, All for $42,375.00 | 04/29/14 ... The electric Mercedes will start to appear in dealerships in July, and the base price is $42,375 including mandatory $925 destination charge ... this car extremely easy to park as well as maneuver in city traffic and other tight spaces ... 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