Mexican Media Brands
Mercedes Adds Plug-In Hybrid Variants
Daimler AG’s Mercedes-Benz unit is launching plug-in hybrid versions of its entry-level A- and B-Class cars.
#hybrid
Share
Daimler AG’s Mercedes-Benz unit is launching plug-in hybrid versions of its entry-level A- and B-Class cars.
The 2020 models team a 1.3-liter 4-cylinder engine with an electric motor to generate a combined 218 hp and 332 lb-ft of torque. The plug-in small cars take 6.6 seconds to accelerate from zero to 62 mph, which is 0.4 seconds slower than their conventionally powered counterparts.
The hybrid powertrains are mated with an 8-speed dual-clutch transmission that drives the front wheels. The engine is started by the electric motor—a first for a Mercedes hybrid.
Supplied by Daimler’s Accumotive GmbH subsidiary, the cars’ 15.6-kWh lithium-ion battery provide a 40-mile all-electric range on the European driving cycle. Mercedes says the battery can be fully recharged in less than two hours via a standard outlet and to 80% capacity in 25 minutes via a DC fast charger.
The third-generation hybrid system taps into the navigation system to maximize the use of electric power during a trip. To help make room for the electric components without sacrificing interior or trunk space, Mercedes shortened the exhaust system and integrated the fuel tank into the axle installation space.
The A 250 e plug-in will be available as either a hatchback or sedan; the B 250 e is an MPV. Sales of the vehicles kick off this autumn in Europe. Mercedes hasn’t said whether it will offer the plug-in hybrid small cars in the U.S.
RELATED CONTENT
-
Electric Motors for Aero and Auto
Rolls-Royce—the manufacturer of aircraft engines, not the one that makes high-end vehicles with four wheels—is working with another British company, YASA, on the development of the ACCEL, an electric airplane.
-
Rivian Gets Even More Money, Now From Ford
The electrification of automotive is serious business. This week it was announced that Ford is making a $500-million equity investment in Rivian.
-
Chevy Develops eCOPO Camaro: The Fast and the Electric
The notion that electric vehicles were the sort of thing that well-meaning professors who wear tweed jackets with elbow patches drove in order to help save the environment was pretty much annihilated when Tesla added the Ludicrous+ mode to the Model S which propelled the vehicle from 0 to 60 mph in less than 3 seconds.