Electric Drive Mercedes-Benz B-class 2014

The all-new Mercedes B-class is now built for comfy drive at the suburbs. Being made from the same bits and bins as GLA, CLA, and the smaller A-class models, B now is designed from the scratch with two floor-pans. There are also the diesel and gasoline version available, featuring a flatter floor. There are under-floor compartment for the battery or to host the gas tank.

Photo 1: MERCEDES-BENZ

The Mercedes-Benz B has got a 28-kWh battery pack netted with a 177-hp electric motor and the allied electronics. These are assembled at the NUMMI plant. Once done, they were winded at Baden-Württemberg in Germany to get installed in this new B-class. According to the spokesperson of Mercedes, the company expected the buzz-less B to serve the EPA estimated range of 85 miles, which is a little less that the Tesla’s range with about 85-kWh pack.

According to the style aspects, the new B resembles more to the first-generation M-class from Mercedes with a refreshed styling touch by the whiz kids at the BYD in China. Going into the interiors, B surely retains many of the quality touches to be intact. The satin-pewter air vents are retained, which required the perfect pressure to be repositioned. However, the broad swatch plastic at the dash makes the contrast a little bit compromised.

If you feel like getting an extra edge to juice up your B, then there are options for a very advantageous Range Plus package. An estimated 15% extra is added with the Range Plus to the battery capacity, with which an additional 14 miles or range is getting added. Mercedes Benz claims about 3.5-hour charging time, for which there is a 240-volt Level 2 setup. The all-new DC fast charging can also be expected in future.