The tenth electric car in the upcoming Mercedes-Benz range is the B-Class ED (from Electric Drive, not Erectile Dysfunction, you jokers), recently launched at the 2013 edition of the Frankfurt Motor Show.
The second model to benefit from Daimler AG's ongoing cooperation with Tesla Motors, the B-Class Electric Drive offers a NEDC range of around 200 kilometers (124 miles) with the help of a lithium-ion battery.
Dr Joachim Schmidt, member of the Board of Management of Mercedes-Benz Cars with responsibility for Sales and Marketing, set to retire soon, had this to say about the model: “Electric motoring with battery and fuel cell has a long history at Daimler. Our electric family of currently nine models is now being strengthened by the introduction of a tenth member. The B-Class Electric Drive meets many customers' demands for emission-free motoring without foregoing the hallmark attributes of a Mercedes-Benz: safety and comfort. And, let's not forget: exhilarating driving pleasure.”
The Tesla-sourced drive system is represented by an electric motor that develops 177 hp and a not-to-shabby 340 Nm (251 lb ft) of instantly-available torque, enough to make the B-Class electric drive reach 100 km/h (62 mph) from a standing start in just 7.9 seconds.
Its top speed is limited to 160 km/h (99 mph), while the battery can be charged in about 1.5 hours from a 400V charging station in Europe to offer a range of approximately 100 km (62 miles). The model will be launched first in the US in 2014, with Europe following soon after.
Alex handled his first real steering wheel at the age of five (on a field) and started practicing "Scandinavian Flicks" at 14 (on non-public gravel roads). Following his time at the University of Journalism, he landed his first real job at the local franchise of Top Gear magazine a few years before Mircea (Panait). Not long after, Alex entered the New Media realm with the autoevolution.com project. Full profile
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