The Mercedes->ke187 B-Class E-Cell Plus Concept was officially introduced at the Frankfurt Motor Show with an eye towards production sometime in 2014. The electric B-Class concept carries the same exterior and interior dimensions as that of the standard B-Class, including the five-seat interior lay-out.

As you can imagine, the notable difference between the two lies in the powertrain. Whereas the regular B-Class carries a fuel powertrain, the B-Class E-Cell is powered by a permanently excited synchronous machine that develops 136 horsepower of maximum power and 95 horsepower of contiguous power. On top of that, the B Class E Cell-Plus also has a 1.0-liter three-cylinder turbocharged range extender engine, producing an output of 50 kW (65 horsepower) at 3,500 rpm while also being used to re-charge the vehicle's battery. Then there's the lithium-ion battery, which the B-Class E-Cell also has and can be recharged through a socket and a 3.3 kW board charger.

All in all, the vehicle can sprint from 0-62 mph in 11 seconds with a top speed of 93 mph and a CO2 emissions level of 32g/km. The electric range of the concept allows the car to run for just 62 mph, although thanks to the vehicle's internal combustion engine, that range can be extended up to 600 km (373 miles)

No word yet on how much Mercedes is thinking of pricing the vehicle. Since production has been set for 2014, expect the announcement to come at a much later date.

2011 Mercedes-Benz B-Class E-Cell Plus Electric Concept

Specifications
  • Make: Array
  • Model: 2011 Mercedes-Benz B-Class E-Cell Plus Electric Concept
  • Horsepower: 136 horsepower of maximum power and 95 horsepower of contiguous power
  • [do not use] Vehicle Model: Array

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