Mercedes Benz B-Class Electric Drive

[hileyms]

It is reported that production versions are coming off the line this week. Deliveries of the B-Class Electric Drive will commence in a few months at first in United States, followed towards the end of the year by Germany and select European markets. For now production is limited only to left-hand drive cars but next year Mercedes will also start putting together RHD units. The article does mention that the lithium-ion battery pack manufactured by Tesla Motors.

Mercedes-Benz begins B-Class Electric Drive production at Rastatt factory

 

[jomo25]

Just for the record, what is the best method to get on a waiting list for this,if I was interested? And how much more complicated (or less possible) is this if I am in Arizona, not one of the initial US markets?

 

[Lloyd]

Put in a 60kWh pack with supercharging and I'm interested, otherwise, not so much.

Put an 85 KW battery with supercharging and I'll buy one!

 

[augkuo]

Seen in Emeryville - looks like fast charging will be available but it's not chademo - it just had a J1772 port

 

[Parzival]

Mercedes supports the CCS (Combo) plug standard for fast charging.

 

[miimura]

Seen in Emeryville - looks like fast charging will be available but it's not chademo - it just had a J1772 port

What makes you think it will have fast charging? The 400V label? That is probably there because the EU version will have a Type-2 inlet that can take 400V 3-phase power. The US cars will reportedly have a Tesla 40A charger just like the RAV4 EV.

 

[gg_got_a_tesla]

What makes you think it will have fast charging? The 400V label? That is probably there because the EU version will have a Type-2 inlet that can take 400V 3-phase power.

Makes sense. Notice the squiggly lines for AC next to the 400V label. Not DC.

MB have said on multiple occasions that the B-class ED will not have DC charging.

 

[jomo25]

Seen in Emeryville - looks like fast charging will be available but it's not chademo - it just had a J1772 port

Thanks for the pics! I really do think this would be a great replacement for our Volt in October. I just don't know if I'd be able to get one in AZ. So I may be stuck with a Leaf or another Volt lease.

 

[TonyWilliams]

Mercedes supports the CCS (Combo) plug standard for fast charging.

No DC charging of any kind; neither Supercharger (Tesla only worldwide), CHAdeMO (worldwide), CCS Combo1 (SAE / GM / VW / BMW / USA), CCS Combo2 (Menekkes / Germany), nor GB/T (China).

It will be the same 40 amp AC charger thats's in your Model S, or my Rav4 EV, or any of the Superchargers (stacked up with 9, 12, or 15).

In Europe, it will have the Tesla three phase charger that is also used in Tesla cars being sold there.

 

[TonyWilliams]

Mercedes B-Class ED battery

36.0kWh total – 100% SOC
33.2kWh usable- 95.0% SOC
28.0kWh usable- 80.0% SOC
1.0kWh unusable- 2.7% SOC


Rav4 EV with Tesla drivetrain:

45.0kWh total – 100% SOC
41.8kWh usable- 95.1% SOC = [( 41.8 + 1.0) / 45]
35.0kWh usable- 80.0% SOC = [( 35.0 + 1.0) / 45]
1.0kWh unusable- 2.2% SOC = [1.0) / 45]


Range at 65mph (100km ground speed) on dry, hard surface level road with no wind or cabin climate control with new condition battery at 70F:

B-Class ED - 3.8 miles per kWh (263 wattHours per mile) * 33.2kWh = 126 miles

Rav4 EV - 3.4 miles per kWh (295 wattHours per mile) * 41.8kWh = 142 miles

LEAF - 4 miles per kWh (250 wattHours per mile) * 21.3kWh = 85.2 miles

 

[GSP]

The B-class looks like a really nice EV with 126 mile EPA range (per Tony's estimate) and 30 mph charging (at 10 kW outlet).

It would make a nice Chevrolet Volt replacement if it had DC fast charging. Of course, chargers are also needed. Someday it will all come together.

GSP

 

[CHGolferJim]

Pricing about $45,000 msrp for base model? Slightly smaller than Merc R-class?

 

[cwerdna]

The B-class looks like a really nice EV with 126 mile EPA range (per Tony's estimate) and 30 mph charging (at 10 kW outlet).

Unfortunately, ~10 kW J1772 public EVSEs are kinda rare.

It would make a nice Chevrolet Volt replacement if it had DC fast charging. Of course, chargers are also needed. Someday it will all come together.

There are plenty of CHAdeMO Association except that Mercedes is in the Frankenplug camp...

 

[miimura]

The B-class looks like a really nice EV with 126 mile EPA range (per Tony's estimate) and 30 mph charging (at 10 kW outlet).

It would make a nice Chevrolet Volt replacement if it had DC fast charging. Of course, chargers are also needed. Someday it will all come together.

GSP

No way B-Class will have 126 mile EPA rating. RAV4 EV has 103 mile EPA rating based on averaging the "Standard" (80%) and "Extended" (95%) charge modes. Based on Tony's numbers above and the RAV4 EV's EPA rating, I'm guessing the B-Class EV will be EPA rated at 92 miles.
My method:
- RAV EPA 103/(41.8+35)/2=2.68, 2.68/3.4=79%
- B-Class 3.8mi/kWh*79%=3.0, 3.0*(33.2+28)/2=91.8 miles EPA

Fundamentally, the B-Class is only better than the RAV4 EV in aero efficiency and overall lower electricity usage. All other usability metrics are the same or worse. Same 10kW on-board charger, same lack of DC fast charge, shorter range, less interior volume for both cargo and people, etc.

 

[TonyWilliams]

Unfortunately, ~10 kW J1772 public EVSEs are kinda rare.

There are plenty of CHAdeMO Association except that Mercedes is in the Frankenplug camp...

VW and BMW are also Frankenpluggers, but will offer CHAdeMO in Japan.

 

[dsm363]

Mercedes B-Class Electric (TESLA drivetrain)

VW and BMW are also Frankenpluggers, but will offer CHAdeMO in Japan.

You use Frankenplug like it is a bad word. What is the equivalent term for CHAdeMO if you want to downplay the standard?

 

[TonyWilliams]

You use Frankenplug like it is a bad word. What is the equivalent term for CHAdeMO if you want to downplay the standard?

Godzilla

 

[cwerdna]

Godzilla

Heh. Besides Godzilla (franchise) - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia, there's also the positive version of Godzilla: Nissan Skyline GT-R - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.

 

[stopcrazypp]

Godzilla

Godzilla is actually a positive term in automotive use because of the GT-R (coincidentally made by Nissan) as cwerdna pointed out.

- - - Updated - - -

You use Frankenplug like it is a bad word. What is the equivalent term for CHAdeMO if you want to downplay the standard?

Not sure who came up with it, but "Frankenplug" was always a derogatory term used to describe the Combo connector. It alludes to Frankenstein in terms of adding the two extra power pins to the connector. I've never seen it used anywhere except by a few people in the USA EV enthusiast circle. AFAIK, there is no equivalent term for CHAdeMO.

 

[Doug_G]

Given the size of the plug, and the Japanese origins... CHAdzilla?