Benz prepares B Class EV for US in 2014

Mercedes-Benz is set to release an all-electric B Class in the US, come 2014. Autoweek reports that it will sit on a modified version of the German giant’s FWD compact platform, using powertrain components from Tesla, in which parent company Daimler owns a 4.7 per cent stake.

The EV appears set to take the place of a previously planned B Class PHEV using a small petrol range-extender engine.  “Zero-emission vehicles receive more favourable classifications and higher incentives than vehicles with a range extender,” a Daimler source told Autoweek. “Especially in the US.”

Revealed as the Concept B-class E-cell Plus, the PHEV appeared at the 2011 Frankfurt auto show. Company spokespeople were telling media at the time that the vehicle would go into production ready for launch in 2014.

Asked about the likelihood of an Australian release, local spokesman David McCarthy suggested we don’t hold our breath. “We’re looking at it, of course,” he told motoring.com.au. “But as things are it’s not easy for us to get it out here. By the time we’ve brought it out, gained ADR compliance, trained up all our sales and service people and so on, while the price most likely wouldn’t hit $100K, it would be prohibitive.”

Australians are well behind the 8-ball in getting EVs to market, he continued. “I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again: if we want to foster the market for EVs and hybrids, governments need to put the same kind of incentives in place here as their counterparts do overseas. For here, they might care to start with the removal of import duty and LCT, and refund GST after a certain period of ownership, say two years.

“And charging infrastructure doesn’t pop out of the ground by itself, certainly not while there are so few users on the ground. So an assistance package of some sort would be good to get a decent public network of rapid charge points up.”

Mr McCarthy has previously spoken with motoring.com.au about the prestige brand's alternative energy vehicles for the US market, among them the B-Class F-Cell hydrogen fuel cell vehicle. That car, like the E-Cell Plus, is propelled by an electric motor, but instead of a battery alone the fuel cell vehicle generates its own power from onboard electrolysis.

Drivetrain components for the B-Class E-Cell Plus aren't the only hardware Daimler is currently sourcing from Tesla. Battery packs for the current (second generation) smart fortwo Electric Drive are also supplied by the Californian EV specialist. But, in what is perhaps a pointer to the German giant’s wider plans, Q3 this year will see the third generation go into production using the German giant’s own drivetrain components.

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