Mercedes B-Class Electric Will Be Sold in US in 2014

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is taking on what appears to be a dying trend with the new, pure EV B-Class Electric DriveMercedes-Benz B Electric ...Germany, 2013 > 200015 photos
that is debuting at the New York Auto Show. It will go on sale in the US in early 2014. While Mercedes has offered the electric B-Class in Europe since 2011, the upgraded version will be the first time that the B-Class will be sold in the US.

The B-Class Electric Drive offers 134hp and 229lb-ft of torque with a range of 115 miles (200km). Acceleration to 100km/h comes in less than ten seconds with an electronically-limited top speed of 100mph (160km/h).

The battery pack is stored in the underfloor area, which means that the interior room is unaffected. Charging to 100% will take around 4 hours from a 240v outlet.

"The B-Class Electric Drive meets the wishes of many customers for emission-free driving without foregoing the hallmark attributes of a Mercedes-Benz, namely safety, comfort and, of course, not to forget exhilarating driving pleasure," said Dr. Joachim Schmidt.

The exterior is kept mostly the same as the standard B-Class.

The car offers advanced features inside like Internet connectivity. There are specific gauges for the battery’s state of charge and range. It comes standard with a 14.7cm (5.8in) color screen with USB input. Drivers can also check the state of charge from their smartphones.