Currently reading: New York motor show: Mercedes-Benz B-class Electric Drive
All-electric Mercedes B-class to offer 115-mile range, full recharge in four hours

Closely following the launch of the Mercedes-Benz SLS ED is the reveal of an all-electric B-class.

The Mercedes' motor, which was co-developed with Tesla, outputs 134bhp and 230lb ft of torque.

Power comes from a battery pack mounted under the floor, which is claimed to be rechargeable from flat in four hours. 

Despite the motor's relatively high output the B-class is claimed to have a maximum range of 115 miles. Nissan's recently updated Leaf, however, offers a maximum range of 124 miles. 

Mercedes states that a two-hour charge will grant the B-class a range of around 60 miles, useful for those who intend to use it regularly.

Inside, the B-class remains much unchanged - but drivers do benefit from additional readouts for the vehicle's power system. The Mercedes also gets a smartphone integration system that allows owners to control functions like preheating.

Mercedes sales boss, Joachim Schmidt, said that he was "Convinced more and more people see zero emissions cars as making sense"

He also commented that "electric vehicles will be a major part of sustainable motoring".

The new Mercedes-Benz B-class Electric Drive, which will be offered in the US initially, will be available to order in the autumn. Sales are expected to start in early 2014. 

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Car review

Change is coming to Mercedes’ small-car range, and this new B-Class is the first taste of it

Mark Tisshaw

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Title: Editor

Mark is a journalist with more than a decade of top-level experience in the automotive industry. He first joined Autocar in 2009, having previously worked in local newspapers. He has held several roles at Autocar, including news editor, deputy editor, digital editor and his current position of editor, one he has held since 2017.

From this position he oversees all of Autocar’s content across the print magazine, autocar.co.uk website, social media, video, and podcast channels, as well as our recent launch, Autocar Business. Mark regularly interviews the very top global executives in the automotive industry, telling their stories and holding them to account, meeting them at shows and events around the world.

Mark is a Car of the Year juror, a prestigious annual award that Autocar is one of the main sponsors of. He has made media appearances on the likes of the BBC, and contributed to titles including What Car?Move Electric and Pistonheads, and has written a column for The Sun.

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