Mercedes-Benz debuts B-Class E-Cell Plus EV concept, the suburban limo revisioned

Sep 13, 2011

Mercedes-Benz could be presenting its first electric vehicle with Range Extender on the 2011 Frankfurt International Motor Show inside the guise of the theory B-Class E-CELL PLUS. The integration of electrical drive and petrol engine ensures excellent suitability for both everyday use and long journeys. The energy accumulator takes the shape of a lithium-ion battery from Deutsche Accumotive, which enables local emission-free driving as much as various 100 kilometres. Because of the extra three-cylinder petrol engine, the idea B-Class E-CELL PLUS has a complete range of as much as 600 km. The postulate vehicle presented on the 2011 Frankfurt International Motor Show provides a foretaste of the series that is to enter production in 2014. The concept that B-Class E-CELL PLUS adds an all-purpose battery-powered vehicle with Range Extender to Mercedes-Benz’s range of electrical vehicles.

a brand new addition to Mercedes-Benz’s portfolio of electrical cars is the near-series Concept B-Class E-CELL PLUS – a compact model that meets the entire needs of daily motoring with a complete range of as much as 600 kilometres. As such, this electric vehicle is likewise splendid to long journeys and gives its driver unrestricted mobility. This is often made possible by the mix of a strong electric drive generating a peak power output of 100 kW and a continuing output of 70 KW with a 50 kW petrol engine. The latter performs a dual role: at low vehicle speeds it charges the battery via a generator. At higher speeds – on prolonged motorway stretches, for instance – it additionally serves as a driving engine, performing on front wheels along side the electrical motor via a newly developed automatic transmission.

In all-electric, local emission-free mode the concept that B-Class E-CELL PLUS has a number of as much as 100 kilometres. This covers over 80 percent of daily driving needs. The entire range of as much as 600 kilometres allows the vehicle for use for long journeys, too. Because of this the electrical vehicle with Range Extender is fully suitable for everyday use and will be relied upon to achieve its destination, regardless of a completely discharged battery. In combined driving mode the vehicle emits 32 grams of CO2 per kilometre.

“The idea B-Class E-CELL PLUS shows that our new range of compact cars is ready for the long run. The variant involving a battery-electric vehicle with Range Extender further broadens the variability of other drive concepts from Mercedes-Benz,” notes Prof Dr Thomas Weber, Member of the Board of Management at Daimler AG, accountable for Group Research and Mercedes-Benz Cars Development. “This innovative and highly flexible concept meets our customers’ wish for emission-free driving coupled with a wide range.”

The vehicle concept – the simplest of 2 worlds
The theorem B-Class E-CELL PLUS is an electrical vehicle meeting all daily motoring needs which mixes the most effective of 2 worlds: all-electric driving and driving with a tried and tested high-tech combustion engine. This mixture allows long journeys which so far has been the reserve of vehicles powered by a combustion engine alone or electric cars fitted with a fuel cell. The 2 drive units are extremely compact and are accommodated inside the engine compartment on the front consisting of the transmission and the generator. The powerful lithium-ion battery and the fuel tank can be found in a false floor on the rear – the so-called “Energy Space” – which have been developed specially for alternative drives. For other drive variants it’s also possible to put in gas or hydrogen tanks here, for instance.

Intelligent control of the drive system for unrestricted mobility
The intelligent electronic control system of the theory B-Class E-CELL PLUS ensures perfect handling in every driving situation. Activation and deactivation of the combustion engine turn up fully automatically and go unnoticed by the driving force. Electric motor and combustion engine work so intelligently together that the drive unit is in a position to select the foremost fuel-efficient mode in every driving situation in a fragment of a second – from stop and go within the city to speedy driving at the open road. With the idea that B-Class E-CELL PLUS there are basically two operating modes, reckoning on the battery charge status:

When the battery possesses sufficient energy, the vehicle runs locally emission-free on electric power alone. The energy accumulator is additionally recharged using a traditional domestic power socket. Rapid charging can be possible with this vehicle. This allows a charging time within the order of 1 hour.

When the battery charge status drops below a undeniable limit, the combustion engine is activated (“Range Extender mode”). The gigantic range that is available in “Range Extender mode” ensures that the vehicle will always reach its destination, however the battery is flat. Acceleration from 0 to 100 km/h in approx. 11 seconds and the pinnacle speed of 150 km/h are both attainable in either operating mode. Which will make sure the most useful possible motoring, two variants are possible, dependent on the vehicle’s speed:

Below a speed of around 60 km/h, the combustion engine and generator attend to on-board power generation (“serial mode”). Therefore, the combustion engine is administered within the most fuel-efficient mode.

At speeds of over 60 km/h the combustion engine acts as a driving engine along with the electrical motor (“parallel mode”), transmitting the generated power to front axle. Any excess power generated by the combustion engine is used to charge the battery and to run the ancillary units.

Highly efficient lithium-ion battery with long service life
The energy accumulator is accommodated in a false floor system on the rear
of the vehicle – the so-called “Energy Space” – which have been developed by Mercedes-Benz specifically for alternative drives. The energy accumulator employed here’s a particularly powerful state-of-the-art lithium-ion battery designed specifically for automotive applications. It’s produced by Deutsche Accumotive GmbH & Co. KG, a three way partnership of Daimler and Evonik.
The battery could be charged using any standard domestic power outlet or at a public charging station, by the charge socket integrated within the rear bumper and the three.3 kW on-board charger.

When the auto goes into production, convenient remote checking and remote configuration of the vehicle might be possible by the so-called Vehicle Homepage. The motive force can be in a position to access his vehicle via the web, using his PC or smartphone. During this way, it will become possible to envision the present charge status of the lithium-ion battery or to make sure the vehicle’s current range on a map. one other feature is wise charging. This involves the client selecting a desired time for the start of his journey. The system then ensures that the battery is fully charged and, if desired, that the vehicle is air‑conditioned at this day and age. The facilities offered by the Vehicle Homepage are rounded off by further convenience functions, along with a route planner designed specifically for electric vehicles.

Comfort and safety to the very best standard
On the subject of safety and luxury, the thought B-Class E-CELL PLUS meets Mercedes-Benz’s high standards in every respect. The vehicle combines compact exterior dimensions with a spacious and variable interior and luggage compartment. Five full-size seats make it an all-round electric car for the family, leisure and general motoring. The hot electromechanical steering and enhanced driving dynamics provide for refined sportiness inside the field
of electrical mobility. A striking feature of the thought B-Class is the copper-coloured linear graphic design which accentuates the vehicle and lends it a dynamic appearance. High-quality black nappa leather and copper-coloured double lap seams has been utilized in the internal.
The theorem vehicle is a match for its siblings in relation to active and passive security measures, too. Like several models of the recent compact car generation, the idea B-Class E-CELL PLUS also comes with COLLISION PREVENTION ASSIST, a brand new assistance system which may help to bypass rear-end collisions in future. In line with the continuing democratisation of safety, the B-Class E‑CELL PLUS will even feature a couple of additional assistance systems adopted from the bigger model series.

These include:

Adaptive Highbeam Assist
Blind Spot Assist and Lane Keeping Assist
Attention Assist (standard)
Speed Limit Assist (speed limit sign recognition)
Active Parking Assist
Brake HOLD function (standard with 7G-DCT)
Hill Hold function
LINGUATRONIC
Reversing camera
PRE-SAFE® (featuring for the 1st time on this class of auto)

As such, the theorem B-Class E-CELL PLUS sets new standards within the areas of compact electric vehicles with reference to comfort, safety and agility.
Technical data
VEHICLE DATA

Seats
5

Electric motor (machine type)

Permanently excited synchronous machine
Maximum output (kW/hp)

100/136**
Continuous output (kW/hp)

70/95**
Top speed (km/h)

150**
Acceleration from 0 to 100 km/h (s)

11,0**
CO2 emissions (g/km)

32**
Range (km) (NEDC)

100 in all-electric mode**
as much as 600 on combined power**
Range Extender

Combustion engine

3-cylinder turbocharged petrol engine
Displacement (l)

1.0 turbo
Rated output (kW)

50 at 3500 rpm**
Battery

Battery technology

Lithium-ion
** Provisional values