Mercedes Benz B-Class Electric Drive

[T B]

So it has the teardrop center pin, but not the notch at the top...
Could someone in Norway take a picture of the actual connector on the Tesla Supercharger? Does it has the notch?
If not we are on to something here. If it has the notch then I can take off my tinfoil hat.

 

[Red]

It may be practical, but that doesn't mean it's pretty. I'd prefer an EV based on the new A class about a hundred times more than the B class, which I've always thought was ugly.

No wonder, since the A was originally designed as an electric car, with an AC drive train, but Mercedes went ICE afterwards. The car had space for the batteries in the
floor (like the Tesla S). The car was failing the moose test because lacking those batteries and low center of weight, the car was too light and center of gravity
was too high up.

These drive trains for the B are basically the same level Mercedes had obtained in the late 90ies. Both power and technology wise which means they either lost
the knowledge/tech since then, or really are using Tesla for the marketing effect.

 

[domenick]

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.

...

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

It's referring to the European launch of the electric B Class. It is still, as far as I know, expected to go on sale in the US in early 2014.

 

[TonyWilliams]

It's referring to the European launch of the electric B Class. It is still, as far as I know, expected to go on sale in the US in early 2014.

It absolutely will be sold in at least California as a 2015 model. I guarantee it.

 

[Mr X]

i see Mercedes is using the same web browser app thing as the smart


hopefully they fixed that "App" and it isnt as buggy as my smart ED "App"

 

[jcstp]

 

[Causalien]

Had an interesting talk with a welding guy who is involved with this chassis for automation accessories.
They just finished figuring out how to automatically weld the battery to a custom frame and make it fit tightly together. So still a lot of teaching to do to the robot arms.

 

[ggies07]

This is ugly as hell. Why is it Tesla is the only one that can make the car look beautiful!?! Nissan, GM, Ford, ok, you expect them to be lazy with design, but Mercedes? This is really starting to irritate me.

 

[78Lion]

MB Model B to start selling in US mid 2014

Link

 

[gg_got_a_tesla]

In the Tesla Q3 earnings call today, Elon Musk said something to the effect that the Merc B-class will be a stand-out EV among the current crop of non-Tesla EVs.

 

[Rifleman]

In the Tesla Q3 earnings call today, Elon Musk said something to the effect that the Merc B-class will be a stand-out EV among the current crop of non-Tesla EVs.

The more I think about this car, I think Elon is right (as always) with that statement. The 115/130 mile range is enough for many of the people who want an EV, but need longer range than a Leaf offers. The success of this car will come down to price. It's a Merc, so many people will be willing to pay a little more for it, but if it gets too expensive, most buyers will just go with a Model S instead. If the B-Class Electric around $40k-$45k before tax credits, and is available nationwide (the longer range is a bigger competitive advantage outside of CA, where there is little charging infrastructure) the B-Class will take a significant chunk of sales away from the Leaf, Volt, and i3. I know if this car was available in September of last year at $45k when I leased my Volt, I would likely be driving it instead of a Volt.

 

[ecarfan]

I wonder if the coming B-class EV will be able to use the Tesla Supercharger network. That would make it much more compelling. Of course it won't have the range to travel from SC to SC as the system is set up now, but as more SCs are built the system would be more useful for 100+ mile range EV.

 

[stopcrazypp]

The more I think about this car, I think Elon is right (as always) with that statement. The 115/130 mile range is enough for many of the people who want an EV, but need longer range than a Leaf offers.

The range is good, but the problem is that like the RAV4-EV, there's no DC charging and it probably won't be available outside CARB states.

 

[ecarfan]

The range is good, but the problem is that like the RAV4-EV, there's no DC charging and it probably won't be available outside CARB states.

The Mercedes B-Class cannot accept DC charging? If that is correct, so much for my speculation that Tesla might allow it to use the SC network.

 

[quartzav]

Before I got the RAV4 I was thinking no DC charging is OK for a commuter with real world 120-130 miles range. While it's true to some extent, on busy days I wish I have about 20 miles additional buffer to not have "very low range warning".

 

[stealthnhawk]

Just wonder.. the Model S 40kwh has a range of about 160m.. how can the Mercedes B class with 28kwh have 130m? Shouldn't it be 28/40 * 160 ~ 112m? Is it because of reduce weight in the b class ev? TIA

 

[Parzival]

Expect an EPA rating just slightly better than the LEAF. It's too bad they didn't stick with the 36kWh pack they had in the earlier prototypes.

I want one to drive around until Gen 3. I hope it's not too costly.

 

[stopcrazypp]

The Mercedes B-Class cannot accept DC charging? If that is correct, so much for my speculation that Tesla might allow it to use the SC network.

Unless they change the specs they have given so far, no DC charging:
http://www.mbusa.com/mercedes/future/model/model-B_Class_Electric_Drive

 

[gg_got_a_tesla]

Strange that the Tesla battery train-equipped (non-Tesla) cars alone - the RAV4 EV and now, the B-class - have no DC charging. May have been too expensive to develop for compliance cars?!

 

[TonyWilliams]

Strange that the Tesla battery train-equipped (non-Tesla) cars alone - the RAV4 EV and now, the B-class - have no DC charging. May have been too expensive to develop for compliance cars?!

When you're building a car for one reason (earn credits to be allowed to sell bazillions of mucho profitable oil cars), adding features like DC charging has no merit.

The CARB-ZEV credits are based on range and refueling speed. Unfortunately, DC quick charging does NOT qualify for fast refueling (Tesla gets that credit by virtue of battery swap capability). Virtually all the manufacturers stop at a 100 mile range to get 3 credits, because the next jump is double the range (200 miles) for only 25% more credit (4 credits, instead of 3).

So, there's a reason why the Toyota Rav4 EV is EPA rated at 103 miles, and why the Mercedes will likely be some number between 80-100 miles EPA, but will be able to get 100 plus miles on the EPA Urban Dynamometer Driving Schedule (UDDS), commonly called the "LA4" or "the city test".

Since neither Tesla, nor Mitsubishi are obligated to CARB-ZEV mandates, they are the only EVs that vary from this quasi "100 mile range" herd. I think a Mitsubishi iMiev is only 62 EPA miles !!!