Stuttgart/Frankfurt.  Plug-in hybrids offer customers the best of both worlds: in town they run in all-electric mode, while on long journeys they benefit from the range of the combustion engine. They make the vehicle more efficient overall, because they can firstly recover energy during braking and secondly allow the combustion engine to run in favourable operating ranges. The intelligent, route-based operating strategy activates the electric driving mode where this is most appropriate for the route. It takes into account e.g. navigation data, topography, speed limits and the traffic conditions for the entire planned route. Plug-in hybrids are also an important milestone on the way to emission-free driving. Mercedes Benz Cars is systematically developing its plug-in hybrids further under the EQ Power label. EQ Power is also a guarantee of exceptional dynamism. EQ Power+ is the name of the performance hybrid technology that Mercedes‑AMG will use on the road in future, and is already used successfully in Formula 1 today. The latest members of the EQ Power family, the A and B-Class, reinforce the plug-in initiative by Mercedes-Benz: the company aims to extend its offering to more than 20 model variants by 2020.

With the help of the EQ Ready App,[1] Mercedes-Benz has established how long the journeys of people interested in e-mobility are on average. Car drivers can use this app to analyse their user behaviour and receive a recommendation of the electric model most suitable for them. The results show that

• 90 percent of all journeys are shorter than 50 kilometres,
• 96 percent of all journeys are shorter than 100 kilometres and
• 99 percent of all journeys are shorter than 400 kilometres,

The range of average distances per journey by interested persons varies in the individual markets, extending from just over eight kilometres in Hong Kong to slightly more than 27 kilometres in the Netherlands, where there is particularly high interest in e-mobility. This means that many journeys can be undertaken exclusively under electric power with the current plug-in models of Mercedes-Benz.

Premiere: A and B-Class with plug-in technology

With the A 250 e (weighted fuel consumption 1.5-1.4 l/100 km, weighted CO₂ emissions 34-33 g/km, weighted power consumption 15.0-14.8 kWh/100 km),[2] A 250 e Saloon (weighted fuel consumption 1.4 l/100 km, weighted CO₂ emissions 33-32 g/km, weighted power consumption 14.8-14.7 kWh/100 km)² and B 250 e (weighted fuel consumption 1.6-1.4 l/100 km, weighted CO₂ emissions 36-32 g/km, weighted power consumption 15.4-14.7 kWh/100 km,)² models from the compact-car family with the third-generation hybrid drive are now celebrating their premiere. The market launch of the models will take place this year.

For the new compact vehicles with EQ Power, (electric) driving pleasure and suitability for everyday use are to the fore. This is illustrated by the models' highlights: 

• Electric range up to 77 km (NEDC)
• Electric output 75 kW
• System output 160 kW
• System torque 450 Nm
• Top speed 140 km/h (electric)/235 km/h (total; A-Class compact Saloon)
• Acceleration 0-100 km/h in 6.6 seconds (A-Class compact Saloon)
• Hardly any restrictions in the load compartment

New member of the plug-in family: the Mercedes-Benz GLE 350 de 4MATIC

The latest addition to the EQ Power model range is the GLE 350 de 4MATIC (weighted fuel consumption 1.1 l/100 km, weighted CO₂ emissions 29 g/km, weighted power consumption 25.4 kWh/100 km)[3]. Its considerably longer range compared to the other plug-in hybrids points the way to an even more rewarding e-driving experience. Key data:

• Electric operating range of 106 km (NEDC)
• Electric output 100 kW
• System output 235 kW/320 hp
• System torque 700 Nm
• Top speed up to 160 km/h (electric)/210 km/h (overall)
• Acceleration from 0-100 km/h in 6.8 seconds

The plug-in hybrids in the S, E and C-Class with electric ranges of up to 50 km acc. to NEDC were already presented last year. Mercedes-Benz is also the only manufacturer to combine the diesel engine with plug-in technology: in the GLE and the C and E-Class. In the two latter model series, both the Saloon and Estate are available with it. The update of the GLC with EQ Power is also ready to start. It provides the entry level into the hybridised SUV segment.

Technical masterpiece: plug-in hybrid with fuel cell

The fuel cell plug-in hybrid Mercedes-Benz GLC F-CELL (weighted hydrogen consumption: 0.91 kg/100 km, weighted CO₂ emissions: 0 g/km, weighted power consumption: 18 kWh/100 km)^[4] is the first model worldwide to feature both fuel cell and battery-electric drive, with external charging by plug-in technology. Apart from electricity, it also runs on pure hydrogen. This has a number of advantages:

• within three minutes at a hydrogen filling station, the full operating range of over 400 km is available again.
• The battery provides a further 50 km or so of range.
• On downhill stretches and when braking, kinetic energy can be stored in the battery (recuperation).
• The battery provides additional power for brisk acceleration.
• Power from purely renewable sources can be used when charging the battery at a power socket.

[1] https://www.mercedes-benz.com/de/eq/ueber-eq/eq-ready/

[2] The stated figures are the measured "NEDC CO₂ figures" in accordance with Art. 2 No. 1 Implementing Regulation (EU) 2017/1153. The fuel consumption figures were calculated based on these figures. The range and the electrical consumption have been determined on the basis of Regulation (EC) No. 692/2008. A different value is applied in accordance with EmoG. A higher figure may apply as the basis for calculating the motor vehicle tax.
* Further information on the official fuel consumption and the official specific CO₂ emissions of new passenger cars can be found in the "Guide to Fuel Consumption, CO₂ Emissions and Electricity Consumption" for new passenger cars, which is available free of charge at all sales outlets and from Deutsche Automobil Treuhand GmbH at www.dat.de.

[3] The stated figures are the measured "NEDC CO₂ figures" in accordance with Art. 2 No. 1 Implementing Regulation (EU) 2017/1153. The fuel consumption figures were calculated based on these figures. The range and the electrical consumption have been determined on the basis of Regulation (EC) No. 692/2008. A different value is applied in accordance with EmoG. A higher figure may apply as the basis for calculating the motor vehicle tax.

[4] The figures for hydrogen consumption, power consumption and CO₂ emissions were established using the prescribed measuring method acc. to Directive (EC) No. 692/2008.