There will be more than 20 Mercedes-Benz models with EQ Power by the end of 2020, the company pledges. The premium car maker thus accelerates its race to electro-mobility.
The plug-in hybrid tech brings together the combustion engine and the electric motor, thus forwarding the advantage of locally emission-free driving with no range anxiety. Furthermore, the relatively large lithium-ion batteries provide purely electric driving enough for most daily journeys.
A research carried out with the help of EQ Ready App shows that most drivers would consider a range of 50 kilometers sufficient for 90% of their journeys. This means that the third-generation plug-in hybrids is ideal for their operations. The batteries allow convenient charging at home, from charging stations or from the public network.
Figures of the EQ Power technology
The innovative EQ Power technology will be available across the premium car maker’s entire range, starting with the A-Class all the way to the S-Class luxury saloon, SUVs included.
Mercedes-Benz has designed and developed specific systems for each drivetrain. For the 8G-DCT dual-clutch transmission variants, the figures bring up a 77-kilometer range in the NEDC cycle. The system output reaches 160 kW, the system torque is of 450 Nm and the top speed of 235 km/h (140 km/h in the electric mode). The A-Class saloon for example, accelerates from 0 to 100 km/h in 6.6 seconds.
EQ Power system integrates the 1.33-liter 4-cylinder engine of 218 horsepower, developed in partnership with the Renault-Nissan Alliance.
A lithium-ion battery supplied by Daimler’s subisidary Deutsche Accumotive, featuring a capacity of approximately 15.6 kWh can be charged in 1 hour and 45 minutes from 10 to 100% from a 7.44 kW wallbox with AC. It only needs 25 minutes from 10 to 80% when connected to a direct current DC source.
The system in the 9G-TRONIC plug-in hybrid transmission has also been redesigned for better performance. It made its debut with the Mercedes-Benz GLE 350 de 4MATIC, providing it with an electric range of up to 106 kilometers according to the NEDC standard, a 320-horsepower output, a system torque of 700 Nm and a top speed of 210 km/h (160 km/h in the electric mode). It requires 6.8 seconds to run from a standstill to 100 km/h.
The variant is compatible with the COMBO vehicle socket using AC and DC, taking 20 minutes for a recharge from 10 to 80% or 30 minutes from 10 to 100%.
The Mercedes me Charge service is one of the world’s most extensive such networks and offers relevant information to the plug-in hybrid variants’ owners.
Was there any word if/when these plug-in hybrids will be available in the USA?