'Benz continuing with Smart and B-Class EVs'
http://www.motoring.com.au/benz-confirms-full-size-ev-100934/ Benz confirms full-size EV January 15, 2016 Bruce Newton [image http://motoring.li.csnstatic.com/motoring/general/editorial/ConceptIAA.jpg (Mercedes-Benz Concept IAA EV) ] First Tesla rival from Mercedes-Benz coming in 2018, with more expected Mercedes-Benz has confirmed media reports it will begin the roll-out of full-size battery-electric vehicles from 2018, as it joins other German luxury car manufacturers in the scramble to reel in Tesla and its success with the Model S. Respected German journalist Georg Kacher reported in late December in Car magazine that a four-model EV attack had been signed off by Benz, with a full-size sedan between C- and E-Class the first to arrive. The 2015 Concept IAA (pictured) is said to provide hints of the EV’s styling. A similarly-sized SUV was reported to be following it closely. A second larger EV and a limousine were also reported to be on the production schedule. “We have decided in addition to these beautiful (conventional Mercedes-Benz) cars and plug-in offensive we will have a full electric vehicle between 400 and 500km of range available in a short period of time and the situation will begin again,” Benz’s research and development chef Dr Thomas Weber told Australian media at the Detroit auto show. “There are a lot of open questions, but we stopped the discussion and said ‘let’s do a car’. Let’s create this architecture, which gives the opportunity to do more. “We will start with one, that is what you normally should do. But be prepared that maybe more than one can come.” Kacher’s report said the electric vehicle architecture (dubbed EVA by Benz) would compromise elements of the company’s MRA large car architecture that underpins both the C-Class and new E-Class, but be modified to incorporate a massive 400kg battery pack that will fill almost the entire floorpan. Rear wheel drive versions of EVA will be available with a single electric motor and 300kW, while the front-wheel drive versions will be powered by a motor producing 90kW or 150KW. Benz has reportedly brought its EV launch forward in the face of the Porsche Mission E and Audi’s Q6 e-tron, both of which are planned for 2018. BMW’s first large and long-range dedicated EV is also expected before 2020 with an SUV the current reported favourite. Of course, Tesla has had its Model S in production since 2012 and will launch its first SUV, the Model X, in Australia later this year. Benz’s global marketing and sales chief Ola Kallenius acknowledged the pressure Tesla had placed on the mainstream automotive industry with the ground-breaking Model S, which has a claimed range up to 550km and in Ludicrous mode can blast to 100km/h in under three seconds. “We have started from a rational point of view (with electric vehicles) and said city mobility and urban mobility and not-so-long ago range is the perfect solution … but clearly the case of Tesla shows there is an element of sexiness for the higher segment of the electric car, so we made a decision to go into that as well. “It’s fair to say what they have done is shaken up that market a little bit and woken a few people up, so kudos to them for doing that. We are going to make sure we are very competitive in our product portfolio and also including zero emission vehicles going forward.” Kallenius stressed the fact a Benz EV would have to retain the all-round capabilities of the brand’s orthodox vehicles. “I think if you get a Mercedes it’s like a decathlon. We have to be good at a lot of different things, not just performance or efficiency. “It’s also about the ride quality and all those little things that make a Mercedes a Mercedes that you are used to. “When we do an electric bigger car it needs to be a 360 degree Mercedes.” Kallenius stressed that the hype around large long-range EVs was not as yet backed up by sales performance. Tesla isn’t forecast to be profitable until 2020 and has sold just over 100,000 units of Model S since launch. “In the 2018 timeframe we will have a very exciting electric vehicle and perhaps that will be the time when volumes start getting a little more interesting in that segment,” said Kallenius. “Up till now a lot of people talk about it, some people do stuff like us, but the volumes have been low. We will see that gradually here the next five to 10 years we think those volumes will go up.” Added Weber: “On the EV side so far it is hard to earn money. The best example is Tesla. You can judge them as a company; their overall result is still… let’s call it ‘not really favourable’.” And Weber also pointed out the recharging infrastructure didn’t exist to support an expansion of EV sales. “What’s a 400km (range) in Australia? It’s not a lot. So you need a lot of infrastructure.” Benz ... in 2017 ... continuing with Smart and B-Class EVs ... 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