What's this about?
Mercedes-Benz has added an electric version of the B-Class to the UK range, which will be available in two trim levels, with prices starting at £26,950 (taking the OLEV grant into account). The first cars are due to arrive in early 2015. Careful packaging means the passenger room and boot space of the standard B-Class (500 litres) are unaffected.
What do you get?
The two trim levels are Sport and Electric Art and before discounts and grants cost £31,950 and £32,245 respectively. Featuring unique bumpers, 17-inch wheels and available in eight paint colours the Sport also gets climate control, a seven-inch central display and reversing camera. Electric Art models come in either Cirrus White or South Seas Blue with contrasting wing mirrors and radiator grille elements and can also be identified by 18-inch alloy wheels and contrasting blue stitching on the upholstery.
Any options?
To extend battery life there is an optional Energy Assist Package for £945, which includes a number of energy saving features. Forward-facing radar senses traffic ahead and increases the level of recuperation to extract as much energy as possible from any deceleration. The system can also take signals from the Comand system, when fitted, to read and adapt to the topography of the road. Insulation around the doors and windows plus heated windscreen and tinted windows reduces the load on the air conditioning. There is also a 'Range Plus' button for occasional use to extend the range beyond what normally would be possible. One more feature is a subtle audible signal that sounds as a warning to pedestrians at speeds below 18mph.
Anything else?
The B-Class Electric Drive comes with fast charging and conventional plugs to replenish its lithium-ion batteries. A fast charge takes between three and four hours while a full charge from the domestic supply will need around nine hours. Mercedes quotes a maximum range of 142 miles between charges.
John Lambert - 9 Dec 2014