The PlugShare charging network comes to the Mercedes-Benz B-Class Electric Drive via “in-dash navigation system via e-Navigator App.” According to Recargo, incorporating PlugShare into the B-Class ED provides owners with access to the world’s most comprehensive database of public, paid and free charging stations.
Recargo, Inc. is working with Daimler to provide customized access to Recargo’s PlugShare charging network for the Mercedes-Benz B-Class Electric Drive. Daimler has incorporated PlugShare into the B-Class Electric Drive in-dash navigation system via e-Navigator App, making its comprehensive database and services an integral aspect of the Mercedes-Benz EV driving experience.
Mercedes S-Class Plug-In Hybrid (Image: Car Buyer)Sparky: Under the bonnet, there’s a 113hp electric motor with a top speed of 87mph and a single-speed automatic gearbox (Image: LES)
The new Mercedes S 500 Plug-In Hybrid will do 101mpg and emit just 65g/km of CO2
The super-economical Mercedes S 500 Plug-In Hybrid will cost from £87,965, be exempt from road tax, and return up to 101mpg. That makes it the most economical Mercedes S-Class ever, despite being able to do 0-62mph in 5.2 seconds and hit a top speed of 155mph. It’s the third hybrid model in the S-Class line-up, joining the S 300 BlueTEC diesel hybrid and S 400 petrol hybrid versions. The S 500, however, is the first plug-in version – giving it an electric-only range of more than 20 miles.
The S 500 Plug-In Hybrid is not to be confused with the standard S 500 petrol version. That model will only manage 31.7mpg, while emissions of 207g/km mean it’ll cost £285 per year to tax. The Plug-In version will do 100.9mpg and emit just 65g/km of CO2 – the latter surely making it very popular in London, where it will escape the daily Congestion Charge. Mercedes has tuned the S 500 to read the road ahead and minimise energy loss. That means the Hybrid can store power on motorways and open roads, ahead of urban areas where it can then run on electric power alone.
The S 500 Plug-In uses a 328bhp petrol engine mated to an 114bhp electric motor, for impressive performance and acceleration. The 0-62mph time of 5.2 seconds makes it faster than a Porsche Cayman, and only 0.4 seconds slower than a Porsche 911. Based on the long wheelbase Mercedes S 500 AMG Line, the S 500 Hybrid gets 19-inch alloy wheels, a sporty AMG body kit and noise-insulating glass. Leather seats, sat-nav and LED lighting are also standard. Like all S-Class models, the S 500 Hybrid is available with imitation hot stone massage seats, as well as heating and ventilation systems in the front and rear. Magic Body Control, which uses a camera to read the road and prep the suspension for a soft ride, is also available as an option.
The S 500 Hybrid can be charged using a standard three-pin plug, but a typical top-up at a public power point will take around two hours. Of course, like all other plug-in models, when the batteries run dry, the Mercedes will seamlessly switch to petrol power to allow owners to continue their journey stress-free. It’s on sale now priced from £87,965, with first deliveries from November.
Mercedes-Benz B-Class Electric (Image: Green Car Website)
Mercedes-Benz is promising improved fuel efficiency and an all-electric powertrain from the facelifted B-Class when it hits UK roads in November.
With 124 miles of range, the B-Class will match the Nissan Leaf in terms of thirst for charge, but it will offer extra badge prestige, a little more practicality and increased performance. It will be the fastest B-Class in the range, with 180bhp powering the car to 62mph in just 7.9 seconds – more than 3.5 seconds faster than a Leaf.
It’s not just the electric model which has allowed Mercedes to clean up its act, with fuel consumption and CO2 emissions improving across the five-engine range, despite performance staying more or less the same.
Ola Källenius, a member of the Mercedes-Benz’s divisional board responsible for marketing and sales, said: “As the first member of a completely new generation of compact class, for us the B-Class paved the way for great success in this vehicle segment. The pioneer is now in better shape than ever.”
