Mercedes-Benz NZ plugs-in
Audi’s been in for a while. So has BMW. Mercedes-Benz is the last of the premium ‘‘big three’’ to introduce plug-in technology to the Kiwi market.
The Three-Pointed Star has been arguably the least enthusiastic about the local potential of electric vehicles to date. Just how much of a push the plug-ins get remains to be seen, as they’re officially available ‘‘to order’’ rather than simply on-sale. But the new range certainly covers a few bases.
M-B is now offering the C-class sedan and wagon, GLE SUV and S-class luxury limousine as plug-in hybrids, with a new-generation E-class to follow. They’re hybridised versions of existing models rather than bespoke electrics (although those are coming from the marque); you’ll know them by the little ‘e’ on the bootlid.
The C 350e opens at $95,900 for the sedan and $98,900 for the estate. Both are powered by a 2.0-litre four-cylinder turbo-petrol four and electric motor, with total system output of 205kW/600Nm and Combined fuel consumption of 2.4/2.6 litres per 100km.
The $149,900 GLE 500e and $255,000 S 500e share the same basic powertrain: a 3.0-litre petrol V6 and electric motor making a total of 325kW/650Nm, albeit in 4WD form for the GLE. Fuel economy is 3.3 litres for the SUV and 2.8 litres for the luxury sedan.
Pure-electric range is between 31-33km, depending on model.
All M-B’s current plug-ins drive through a conventional 7G-Tronic automatic transmission, with the electric motor replacing the torque converter in the bell housing. The forthcoming E 350e will be the first to combine 9G-Tronic with electric power.
All the brand’s plug-ins also have Airmatic suspension.
The S 500e was the first M-B plug-in hybrid on the market in Europe, and it was this model that we got a short ride in during a visit to Melbourne this month. That’s ‘ride’ rather than ‘drive’, although arguably the rear seat is the correct place to sit in an S-class anyway.
Plug-in power completes the luxury experience in M-B’s iconic luxury sedan. In electric-only mode the car simply glides through traffic, and although you can’t lock out the petrol engine completely - it’ll still fire up if you ask for a certain level of acceleration - our driver reckoned the big S-class was more than capable of mixing it up in traffic without the need for petrol power.
If these e-Mercs have a unique selling proposition among the premium plug-in competition, it’s the way in which the hybrid powertrain has been calibrated and engineered to work so intelligently with the marque’s existing driver-assistance systems.
The hybrid system itself has four operating modes: Hybrid (optimum mixture of petrol and electric), E-mode (pure electric), E-save (to maintain charge for later use) and Charge (the petrol engine acts as a generator).
These operating modes can also be overlaid with the car’s own transmission settings: Economy, E-Plus and Sport.
We already know that M-B’s Distronic adaptive cruise control is one of the best driver-assistance systems going. But it gets even more clever in e-guise.
The radar is always watching and can help the hybrid system harvest energy if it detects that the car in front is slowing down. That will put the car into ‘sailing’ lowfriction mode and hold the distance between the vehicles solely on electric power.
If the transmission is in E-Plus mode, the ‘haptic accelerator’ can give your foot a double-tap to remind you to lift off if the car ahead is slowing down - even if the Distronic cruise is not active.
If you have programmed a satnav destination in E-Plus, the car can also select the greenest route and optimum driving modes automatically.
With the sat-nav in close communication with the hybrid system, the idea is to maximise electric drive and still arrive at your destination with an empty battery (which means you’ve maximised its use).
For example, if the sat-nav can see a hill ahead, it will give the drivetrain extra boost going up to save fuel, because the system also recognises the regeneration potential down the other side.
There are other comfort/ convenience advantages to plug-in power. All ancillaries are electrically powered in the e-models, including the climate control system. That means owners can set the car’s air conditioning and seat heating to ‘pre-entry’ mode for up to five minutes, with three different departure times if needed.
There are three different charging methods for the M-B e-models: public infrastructure using the American-style Type 1 plug, at home through a conventional three-pin socket or with a Mercedes-supplied optional fast-charge wallbox.
The C, GLE and S plug-ins all have their power connections at