The A-Class has finally come of age! Mercedes has confirmed that it will show the production version of its all-electric A-Class concept at the Paris Motor Show, alongside the firm’s new CLS.
Called the E-Cell, 500 cars will be built at first and will go on trial in Europe next year. The trial will be used to build-up a bank of data about how drivers use electric cars, much like BMW is doing with its MINI E and forthcoming 1-Series-Coupe-based ActivE programmes. The firm confirmed that customers will be chosen and then leased the car for a period of four years.
As well as going on trial in Mercedes’ home city of Stuttgart, the E-Cell will join a fleet of alternatively powered cars and vans as part of Mercedes’ ‘e-mobility Baden-Württemberg’ project.
The original A-Class was penned by Brit Steve Mattin, who would later become head of design at Volvo, and was conceived with electrification in mind. The revolutionary sandwich floor, which remains in today’s car and sees mechanicals mounted under car’s passenger area, was intended to hold batteries rather than elements of the conventional petrol and diesel powertrains that the A-Class ended up with.
The E-Cell will be assembled at Mercedes’ Rastatt plant in Germany, using 40kW lithium-ion batteries and electronic controllers provided by US-based electric car firm Tesla. Few details have been released, but the A-Class should have a range of up to 124 miles and have 290Nm of torque, ensuring sprightly performance.
Mercedes’ parent company Daimler signed a battery supply agreement with Tesla last year. Tesla already provides batteries for the latest Smart ED, and the deal looks set to be strengthened with the announcement of the firm’s involvement in the A-Class E-Cell project. For more details click here.
Thanks to: Auto Express
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