BMW may be
getting the lion's share of attention these days when it comes to electric or
hybrid cars from Germany, but while the i3 and i8 cut a more distinct profile
with their uniquely styling, Mercedeshas got challengers
of its own. Daimler will gladly sell you an E400 Hybrid if
you're so inclined, a Smart
Electric Drive if that's all you need, or an SLS
AMG Electric Drive if you've got half a million to blow. But now
Mercedes-Benz USA is bringing over the B-Class
Electric Drive as well, and has announced details and pricing for the
American market.
Joining the hydrogen-powered B-Class F-Cell, the new B-Class Electric Drive packs an electric motor developed by Tesla, good for 177 horsepower and 251 pound-feet of torque, and powered by a 28-kWH lithium-ion battery that takes two hours to charge from a 240v charger. That'll get you from 0-60 in an estimated 7.9 seconds, en route to a 100-mile-per-hour top speed or take you a good 85 miles between charges, all yours for $41,450.
That's just $100 more than BMW charges for a base i3 (sans on-board gasoline generator), but then the Bimmer packs less muscle: seven fewer horses, 67 fewer torques and a 22-kWh battery. The thing is, though, that while BMW hasn't released US-specific figures, by European standards it will outperform the B-Class ED in just about every metric. It'll accelerate faster, reaching 62 mph in 7.2 seconds, and while it tops out at only 93 mph, those seven miles will matter only on Germany's own Autobahn. The i3 will also travel farther on a single charge, running for 118 miles on the EU cycle.
The performance disparity likely comes down mostly to weight. Because the i3 is made largely of carbon fiber and the B-Class of heavy metal, the BMW weighs just 2,635 pounds while the B-Class Electric Drive is far heftier at 3,924 pounds, as confirmed in correspondence with MBUSA spokesman Christian Bokich. (That's also 660 pounds heavier than a diesel B-Class, but that model is not offered Stateside anyway.) The Mercedes is also larger, though, stretching 171.6 inches on a 106.3-inch wheelbase compared to the BMW's 157-inch length and 101-inch wheelbase. (Width and height are roughly comparable.) Whether that larger form is worth the penalty on the road is a matter each customer will have to decide for him or herself. Deliveries commence this summer.
Joining the hydrogen-powered B-Class F-Cell, the new B-Class Electric Drive packs an electric motor developed by Tesla, good for 177 horsepower and 251 pound-feet of torque, and powered by a 28-kWH lithium-ion battery that takes two hours to charge from a 240v charger. That'll get you from 0-60 in an estimated 7.9 seconds, en route to a 100-mile-per-hour top speed or take you a good 85 miles between charges, all yours for $41,450.
That's just $100 more than BMW charges for a base i3 (sans on-board gasoline generator), but then the Bimmer packs less muscle: seven fewer horses, 67 fewer torques and a 22-kWh battery. The thing is, though, that while BMW hasn't released US-specific figures, by European standards it will outperform the B-Class ED in just about every metric. It'll accelerate faster, reaching 62 mph in 7.2 seconds, and while it tops out at only 93 mph, those seven miles will matter only on Germany's own Autobahn. The i3 will also travel farther on a single charge, running for 118 miles on the EU cycle.
The performance disparity likely comes down mostly to weight. Because the i3 is made largely of carbon fiber and the B-Class of heavy metal, the BMW weighs just 2,635 pounds while the B-Class Electric Drive is far heftier at 3,924 pounds, as confirmed in correspondence with MBUSA spokesman Christian Bokich. (That's also 660 pounds heavier than a diesel B-Class, but that model is not offered Stateside anyway.) The Mercedes is also larger, though, stretching 171.6 inches on a 106.3-inch wheelbase compared to the BMW's 157-inch length and 101-inch wheelbase. (Width and height are roughly comparable.) Whether that larger form is worth the penalty on the road is a matter each customer will have to decide for him or herself. Deliveries commence this summer.
News Source: Mercedes-Benz
Autoblog
by Noah Joseph
http://www.
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