Battery Power: Meet the 2014 B-Class Electric Drive

By Marcus Slater - April 30, 2014

The B-Class doesn’t seem like much if you’re just looking at it. The car doesn’t have the status and prestige of an E-Class or the racing history of the gullwings. It’s kind of short, a little stout… It looks like Mercedes’ interpretation of the Yaris. It’s not quite as sexy as the A-Class hatchback, but it’s the closest thing Mercedes makes to a Fiesta.

So, it’s a touch pedestrian, but it’s also a big deal. The B-Class is the first full electric Mercedes coming to the USA. First impressions of have to potential to color people’s opinions on Mercedes battery powered effor for years to come. Don’t panic! Judging from it’s spec sheet, The B-Class Electric Drive will be a solid little car.

What that small footprint hides is a significant curb weight of 3,900 lbs. The power train supplies 177 horsepower and 251 lb-ft of torque to pull all that heft around. At full tilt, the B-Class will reach 60 mph in a tick under eight seconds. So, no. You will not be outrunning Tesla Model S’s and Chevy Volts with this. Even Chevy’s Spark EV provides more punch (140hp and 400 lb-ft of torque). You’ll get a solid 85 miles between charges too.

Ready to dive into Mercedes electrified view of the future? It’ll only cost you $41,000. That’s a C-Class with options. It’s nearly the cost of a base model SLK. Admittedly, cross shopping those cars aren’t entirely fair. The real competition for the B-Class will be against plug-in hybrids and other electric cars. Bmw’s i3 starts at $45,000. Ford’s Focus EV starts at $35,000. Audi’s A3 e-tron isn’t out yet, but it’ll be another competitor in this increasingly crowded small-car space.

Does the B-Class shock your senses? Jump to the forum thread here!