Mercedes A-Class E-Cell electric in production

Mercedes A-Class E-Cell

Mercedes is putting its third electric car in to limited production – the Mercedes A class E-Cell- which will enter production this year.

Mercedes has confirmed that it to add a third production electric model to its range, with the Mercedes A-Class E-Cell going in to production. What? There are already two electric Mercedes in production? Well, yes there are, but in piddly little numbers (the F-Cell and the Smart, in case you care). And the A Class Electric is no different.

Production means a run of 500 A Class E-Cell, which will be leased out on the Continent (Germany, France and Holland, it would seem) more as a rolling evaluation of all things electric car than a serious attempt to supply the real world with real electric cars. But actually, the A-Class E-Cell is a sensible route to go, if you’re going to go the electric route at all.

The Mercedes A Class has a sandwich floor, perfect for sticking the 36kW of batteries without losing the back seat or filling the boot. That leaves room for the 95bhp electric motor which produces 213lb/ft of torque. That’s a bit less power and a bit more torque than a A180CDI. So you’d expect similar performance.

But you don’t really get bit. Despite electric motors having all their torque all of the time, the A Class E-Cell can only manage 60mph in 14 seconds, more than 3 seconds less than its diesel sibling. Still, its 5.5 seconds to 37mph is probably a better indicator of its urban abilities.

The A Class E Cell will recharge fully from a domestic socket in about 8 hours, or a from a public recharging point in 3 hours. Some recharging stations are being provided by Mercedes (in conjunction with the local electric company) in the Baden-Württemberg region of Germany. Around 700 points are being installed and a handful of hydrogen refilling points to help with the F-Cell.

Which isn’t much help if you’re in France or the Netherlands.