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B-Class Electric Drive, the first true Mercedes electric vehicle, coming to US in 2014

B-Class Electric Drive, the first true Mercedes electric vehicle, coming to US in 2014

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Mercedes has revealed its first electric vehicle for the US here at the New York International Auto Show: the B-Class Electric Drive. The German company has worked in conjunction with Tesla and added a 28-kWh lithium ion battery pack to its standard fuel-powered (and slightly bulbous) B-Class compact multi-purpose vehicle (read: small minivan). Mercedes says that the battery will offer 115 miles of range on a charge, and that it can charge up to a 60 mile range in less than two hours and up to full capacity in four hours using a 240-volt power connection (no information is available yet on how long it will take on a regular wall socket). The battery pack is placed underneath the floor of the car — rather than the trunk like some other vehicles — saving space for up to five passengers. The electric motor will provide 134 horsepower and 228 lb-ft of torque, and will go from 0 to 60mph in under 10 seconds.

Other than zero emissions, Mercedes is also touting the entertainment technology in the vehicle. The infotainment system centers on a 5.8-inch display and the instrument cluster uses an LCD as well to display vehicle information. What's more interesting is its network connectivity: owners will be able to check vehicle charge on the web, plan routes and view charging stations, and control the car's interior climate before getting in.

Mercedes B-Class Electric Drive hands-on pictures

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There's no word on how much the B-Class Electric Drive will cost, but it will certainly be the first electric vehicle from the manufacturer that normal people could dream of owning: the SLS AMG E-Cell isn't easy on the wallet, and, in any event, it isn't available in the US. (Daimler-owned Smart does offer the affordable ForTwo Electric, however.) Mercedes plans to make the B-Class Electric Drive available in early 2014 initially in the US, and then later in Europe.