Mercedes Benz B-Class Electric Drive

[Rifleman]

I dont think that it a bad looking car at all. It's not an attractive car by any means, but it is not ugly. Thoroughly average (and honestly, this is not a bad thing.)

I just wish it had a bigger battery.

 

[SFOTurtle]

I just learned that the price will be starting at around 60,000 USD. This is much more than I was expecting it would be.
Here is the link of the video on YouTube:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AccmX67tJJM

I can't see many people buying this car for $60K. I thought I remember reading something that it would be much cheaper than this, but I could be confusing this with another car. Something in the $30Ks might sell, but $60K for this car?

 

[Rla]

The new Mercedes CLA

Looks great and it has a very good drag coefficient of cW = 0,23.
I'm just not sure what the strange thing in the red circled area is supposed to be. I do not really like that part, seems to be something from the ICE age.

 

[jcstp]

View attachment 20707
Looks great and it has a very good drag coefficient of cW = 0,23.
I'm just not sure what the strange thing in the red circled area is supposed to be. I do not really like that part, seems to be something from the ICE age.

where is the squirel?

 

[wycolo]

> I can't see many people buying this car (B-Class) for $60K [SFOTurtle]

Just goes to show what an absolute BARGAIN the ModelS is!! You get it *ALL* for one low price!! Let Tesla put *YOU* in the driver's seat TODAY!!

[Late Night TV ads coming to a station near you very soon now] . . .
--

 

[Adm]

Not quite sure where this was...

[video]https://plus.google.com/u/0/photos/109478689223022530028/albums/5883143742570907425?gpinv=AMIXal9HMlHHNEiNYbK8v4g7-sXPC9Wm9KsQqbDp2i8_jJ4MfN3x_qSh0Ksav0UFfajNgAVepQgi5bAXcEWd-o6satBJwSA1rm_oly7esltbp1nhUudWTCM&cfem=1&authkey=CKGqg5_I1eaFugE[/video]

http://finance.yahoo.com/news/tesla-based-mercede-seen-google-100000446.html

 

[Soflason]

When looking at Mercedes investment in and collaboration with Tesla (on the Mercedes B-Class E-Cell, Smart, and, more to come), it might be foreboding something bigger as stated in this Seeking Alpha piece, "On Elon Musk and Tesla Motors: The Art of Modern Warfare In a Noble Cause" recently published by Julian Cox. Not going off topic, but, I think this is quite pertinent to the success of this particular partnership on Mercedes B-Class E-Cell because it will speak volumes to the probability of something bigger brewing in the near (or distant) future. This is purely conjecture, but, quite relevant to how this all might unfold...

Here is an excerpt from the article:
"The involvement of Daimler as a minor shareholder and participant in Tesla could be lifted directly from the pages of the Innovator's Dilemma with Daimler effectively positioning itself as heir apparent of the Tesla business upon maturity. In fact, a Daimler affiliate, Blackstar, holds a right to review any serious third party bid to purchase Tesla effectively preventing the sale of the business to another party without Daimler's consent unless Daimler is literally out-bid. Jerome Guillen, formerly leader of the Business Innovation department at Daimler is a key person at Tesla in his role as Director of Model S Programs. Harald Kroeger is a Tesla board member who is responsible for the electrics and electronics of all Mercedes-Benz cars and the development of Mercedes eDrive Vehicles. Effectively the companies, Tesla and Daimler are intertwined, which provides considerable security for both parties and alleviates the urgency for Daimler to dismantle its Mercedes ICE business until such a time that the EV market is considered large enough to enter with full commitment. Once Tesla has become fully established and effectively able to lead the Daimler global operations in EV production, there appears to be a pre-arranged path for that to happen. This arrangement provides Tesla with an option for a step-change in scale and for an exit most likely via the route of merger on a 2-5 year horizon. It is worth noting that in accordance with the strictures of the Innovator's Dilemma, this option would more likely lead to a Musk, Kroeger and Guillen leadership of Daimler, were it to take place rather than the absorption of Tesla as an adjunct to the ICE business."

A link to the full article (long and choppy but some great insights):
http://seekingalpha.com/article/1463661-on-elon-musk-and-tesla-motors-the-art-of-modern-warfare-in-a-noble-cause?source=yahoo

With this in mind, it will be very telling to see how this vehicle does as the first major "testing ground" between Mercedes and Tesla...

 

[Mr X]

this might do well but i bet it would do even better if it was a sedan, only eu car style im a fan of is wagons, this mercedes looks kinda dorky

 

[cwerdna]

Guess the Plug-In | PriusChat - I wonder if this still uses a powertrain developed w/Tesla...

 

[TonyWilliams]

Guess the Plug-In | PriusChat - I wonder if this still uses a powertrain developed w/Tesla...

Yes, Tesla drivetrain, just like the Rav4 EV

10kW Tesla charger (counter to other reports... Tesla doesn't make a 6kw-7kW charger).

28kW battery previously reported. If it turns out to be a 30kW "useable" pack, I assume that it can cruise down a freeway at the same 250 wattHours or 4 miles per kWh as a LEAF, then that would be a very solid contender for 80-100 mile days with some cushion.

It will likely only have a Frankenplug, and no CHAdeMO option. Yes, it is a CARB compliance car, but reportedly not "compliance ONLY", like a Toyota Rav4 or Honda Fit EV.

Of course, they all say that, then just sell the car in California or other CARB states in limited numbers. I honestly don't expect anything different with the B-Class here in the USA.

 

[60TTuC]

Mercedes bringt elektrische B-Klasse mit Luxus-Antrieb von Tesla - Crain Communications GmbH - Pressemitteilung

B-Klasse specs:
Top speed: 160 km/h ( 100 mph)
0 - 100 km/h ( 62 mph): 7.9 s
range: 200 km ( 125 mi)
Charging time: 3 h

 

[gg_got_a_tesla]

Here's more; funny that Merc is going to use the Tesla angle to one-up BMW

With Tesla Inside, 2014 Mercedes-Benz B-Class Electric Drive Zips From 0 to 62 MPH in 7.9 Seconds; Puts BMW i3 On the Lookout

Yes, the B-class may be for retirees in Europe but, given the 5 seats vs the i3's 4, seems to be a decent offering, pending announcement of the price.

 

[Merrill]

Wow, 60k is way to much for that car, why would you not buy a Tesla? Thought it was going to be more around 35k.

 

[qwk]

Wow, 60k is way to much for that car, why would you not buy a Tesla? Thought it was going to be more around 35k.

Where did you get $60k from?

 

[TonyWilliams]

Wow, 60k is way to much for that car, why would you not buy a Tesla? Thought it was going to be more around 35k.

The sticker price on the Toyota Rav4 EV is $50,870. The Daimler / Mercedes is a parallel program with Tesla, with each auto maker having to sell 0.79% in California... minimum.

Mercedes has to sell a whole lot less volume than Toyota, obviously. High price is fine; they will sell the hundreds that they need to sell, in addition to the Smart ED.

 

[Adm]

I found in a press release of Mercedes Benz for an event for alternatively powered cars that the Mercedes Benz B-Class E-Cell won't come to the market until 2015.

My guess is they are postponing to give their investments in Fool Cell technology a better chance!

The press release is in Dutch.

http://media.daimler.com/dcmedia-nl_nl/0-983-710498-31-1638690-1-0-0-0-0-1-13072-0-0-1-0-0-0-0-0.html?TS=1381138727559

 

[T B]

The prototype shown in Paris:

Help me out with this one, if I am wrong. But the standard Type 2 plug has a round center pin. The Tesla Model S has a drop-formed center pin to be able to receive both standard Type 2 plugs and Tesla superchargers. This picture clearly shows the Mercedes also has a drop-shaped center pin?!

Thus might it be possible to charge it at Tesla's Supercharger stations? Some Tesla-Mercedes cooperation in deploying Supercharges stations in Europe?
(Now, where did I put my tinfoil-hat?)

 

[doug]

Good eye! Hard to tell if also has that notch at the top. There was talk of "fast charging" for this car, so perhaps it will be able to use the Superchargers.

 

[fengshui]

Good eye! Hard to tell if also has that notch at the top. There was talk of "fast charging" for this car, so perhaps it will be able to use the Superchargers.

I don't see the notch, and the teardrop center-pin also shows up in drawings of the generic European J1772 receptacles:
http://www.theregister.co.uk/2012/0...ic_car_makers_back_ac_dc_power_port_standard/

 

[doug]

I don't see the notch, and the teardrop center-pin also shows up in drawings of the generic European J1772 receptacles:
http://www.theregister.co.uk/2012/0...ic_car_makers_back_ac_dc_power_port_standard/

Well, more specifically the keyed center-pin shows up on DC high power type-2 connectors.
See here: Europe: Future Charging for Model S 1-phase or 3-phase? (Part 2) - Page 41

That this Merc has the keyed center pin without the extra high power pins that normally come with the Mennekes Combo plug, suggests it might be able to use Teslas EU Superchargers.