Mercedes Electric Drive B-Class at Paris 2012

Mercedes has revealed an electric version of the new B-Class – the B-Class Electric Drive Concept – which will debut at Paris 2012.

Mercedes has revealed the electric B-Class in the guise of the B-Class Electric Drive Concept – a name Mercedes say will find its way on to the boot of all electric Mercedes, Smart and Tesla cars – which previews a production version by 2014.

Powering the B-Class Electric Drive is the Smart electric Drive powerplant, located in the space normally taken up by the ICE, which offers 134bhp and a healthy 228lb/ft of torque with the batteries to power the electric motor housed in what Mercedes are calling the B-Class’s Energy space ahead of the rear axle.

Mercedes are claiming a fully charged range of over 120 miles for the Electric Drive in the B-Class, which can be charged from a domestic socket or via a 400v high-voltage terminal.

As well as the B-Class Electric Drive, Mercedes will be showing production versions of the SLS AMG Coupé Electric Drive and the smart BRABUS electric drive at Paris.

It’s expected that the Mercedes B-Class Electric Drive – which is almost production-ready – will hit Mercedes showrooms in 2014.