The Mercedes-Benz GLC 300 Plug-In Hybrid SUV: The Complete Guide For India

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Electric Cars: The Basics

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For those of you new to zero-emission electric driving, we recommend a read of the following articles:

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The Mercedes-Benz GLC 300 SUV PHEV

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Mercedes-Benz, simply known as Mercedes, is a leading global luxury automative manufacturer based in Germany. The company is headquartered in Stuttgart and is famed for its high quality passenger vehicles, to include the Mercedes-Maybach. However, the company is also a leader in manufacturing commercial vehicles, to include the plug-in Mercedes eSprinter commercial EV and the plug-in Mercedes eVito electric van.

Mercedes-Benz EQ is the sub-brand used by the company for its portfolio of battery-electric vehicles (BEVs), plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs) and mild hybrids. The pure electric cars are branded as EQ, while the PHEVs are branded as EQ Power. The mild hybrid vehicles are branded as EQ Boost. The PHEV portfolio includes:

• Mercedes A-Class Hatchback PHEV
• Mercedes A-Class Saloon PHEV
• Mercedes B-Class Hatchback PHEV
• Mercedes E-Class Saloon PHEV
• Mercedes E-Class Estate PHEV
• Mercedes S-Class Saloon PHEV
• Mercedes CLA Coupé PHEV
• Mercedes CLA Shooting Brake PHEV
• Mercedes GLA SUV PHEV
• Mercedes GLC SUV PHEV
• Mercedes GLC Coupé PHEV
• Mercedes GLE SUV PHEV
• Mercedes GLE Coupé PHEV

The Mercedes-Benz GLC premium mid-sized compact SUV was introduced in 2015. In 2019, the SUV was given a facelift for the 2020 model year. The GLC SUV includes two plug-in hybrid electric vehicle (PHEV) options: a petrol/electric and a diesel/ electric.

The GLC PHEV is a good all-rounder for those keen to migrate to lower tailpipe-emission electric cars. The Mercedes-Benz PHEV has a 13.5 kWh onboard EV battery with a WLTP (certified) zero-emission electric range up to 28 miles. Nothing spectacular, but it is still a useful EV range for lowering the cost of driving.

Depending on driving style, weather condition, onboard services used, passenger load etc, expect a real-world range closer to 23 miles. Though the EV range is limited, it is still sufficient for shorter commutes. Like most electric vehicles (EVs), the GLC PHEV incorporates regenerative braking to increase driving efficiency i.e. EV range.

The cost per mile on electric mode, is far cheaper than using the internal combustion engine (ICE). Moreover, using the electric mode, also improves the overall efficiency of the vehicle. Mercedes claims a fuel economy up to 122.8 mpg for the GLC 300 e PHEV and up to 156.9 mpg for the GLC 300 de PHEV. Of course, the real-world fuel economy will be lower, but far improved compared to the fuel economy of the conventional petrol variant (44.1 mpg), as far as the e-mode is leveraged.

The all-wheel drive Mercedes PHEV is available with either, a diesel (2.0-litre, 4-cylinder) or petrol engine (2.0-litre, 4-cylinder), coupled with a 90 kW electric motor. Both the petrol and diesel PHEVs have a top speed of 143 mph (87 mph on electric mode). 0-62 mph performance is decent, with the petrol PHEV at 5.7 seconds and the diesel PHEV at 6.2 seconds.

The onboard charger is limited to 7.4 kW AC, with the EV capable of charging 10% to 100% in 90 mins via a dedicated domestic EV charger. Using a 3-PIN domestic socket will take up to 5 hours to charge the EV battery. We at e-zoomed discourage the use of using a domestic socket to charge an EV. It is always safer and more efficient to use an electric car charging point. The electric SUV is not capable of fast DC charging.

There are certainly other cheaper alternatives for mid-sized plug-in hybrid SUVs, but of course the quality will not be a Mercedes. The GLC PHEV has both an attractive exterior appeal and a high quality, technology-filled interior, to include: the Mercedes-Benz User Experience (MBUX) in car infotainment system. MBUX can be voice activated, personalised and uses Artificial Intelligence (AI) to learn and adapt over time. It is able to predict personal habits, such as navigation for frequently-driven routes, or the radio stations etc.

In regards to practicality, the PHEV does have to compromise boot space for the placement of the EV battery. Despite this, the EV has a decent cargo volume (395 L). In terms of seating adults, the rear seats have ample legroom and headroom.

The EV has claimed tailpipe emissions up to 54g CO2/km. Again, substantially lower than the emissions of the conventional petrol variant. Bottom-line, electric driving is good for the environment and the wallet! The Mercedes-Benz electric car is not available in India.

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PROS	CONS
An attractive exterior design and high quality interior	Fuel economy not as efficient as other PHEVs in the segment
A practical SUV despite the placement of the onboard EV battery	An expensive PHEV. Cheaper alternatives available
Four-wheel drive as standard	Limited emission-free electric range (28 miles)

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The Mercedes-Benz GLC 300 SUV PHEV (credit: Mercedes)

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One of the key advantages of driving an electric vehicle (EV), is that, it is cheaper to drive, compared to conventional internal combustion engine (ICE), petrol and diesel vehicles. For many years, we have witnessed a significant increase in prices at petrol pumps across India. However, this is not an ‘India’ only trend, but a global trend. We can continue to expect an inflation in global petrol and diesel prices for the foreseeable future.

Both, a pure electric car and a plug-in hybrid electric car, offer significant savings on driving costs per mile, when driven on zero-tailpipe emission electric mode. In India, filling a petrol or diesel car can cost anything between Rs 5,000 to Rs 10,000. As an example, the very popular Audi Q7 diesel SUV has a fuel capacity of 85 litres. Assuming an average cost per litre of Rs 90, the cost of filling a full tank will be up to Rs 7,650!

In comparison, the all-electric Audi e-tron SUV , which is now available in India, and a similar size to the Audi Q7, can be fully recharged for less than Rs 1,000. Put another way, charging the Audi electric SUV, can save up to 85% compared to filling a full tank of fuel (in India, the average cost for residential electricity is between Rs 5 to Rs 10 per kWh).

At an average one can expect a cost per km of Rs 1 for a zero-emission EV, while for an equivalent petrol or diesel vehicle, the cost per km could be up to Rs 7 per km. The annual cost savings achieved by switching to electric driving is significant! The sooner you switch to green cars, the sooner you can start saving money. That is simply the bottom-line!

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At A Glance
EV Type:	Plug-In Hybrid Electric Vehicle (PHEV)
Vehicle Type:	SUV
Engine:	Petrol-Electric/ Diesel-Electric
Available In India:	No

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Variants (6 Options)
GLC 300 e 4MATIC AMG Line
GLC 300 de 4MATIC AMG Line
GLC 300 e 4MATIC AMG Line Premium
GLC 300 de 4MATIC AMG Line Premium
GLC 300 e 4MATIC AMG Line Premium Plus
GLC 300 de 4MATIC AMG Line Premium Plus

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EV Battery & Emissions
EV Battery Type:	Lithium-ion
EV Battery Capacity:	Available in one battery size: 13.5 kWh
Charging:	DC charging not available. On-board charger 7.4 kW AC (10% to 100%: 90 mins)
Charge Port:	Type 2
EV Cable Type:	Type 2
Tailpipe Emissions:	54 – 50g (CO2/km)
Warranty:	6 years or 62,000 miles

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Charging Times (Overview)
Slow charging AC (3 kW – 3.6 kW):	6 – 12 hours (dependent on size of EV battery & SOC)
Fast charging AC (7 kW – 22 kW):	3 – 8 hours (dependent on size of EV battery & SoC)
Rapid charging AC (43 kW):	0-80%: 20 mins to 60 mins (dependent on size of EV battery & SoC)
Rapid charging DC (50 kW+):	0-80%: 20 mins to 60 mins (dependent on size of EV battery & SoC)
Ultra rapid charging DC (150 kW+):	0-80% : 20 mins to 40 mins (dependent on size of EV battery & SoC)
Tesla Supercharger (120 kW – 250 kW):	0-80%: up to 25 mins (dependent on size of EV battery & SoC)

• Note 1: SoC: state of charge

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Dimensions
Height (mm):	1664
Width (mm):	2096
Length (mm):	4658
Wheelbase (mm):	2939
Turning Circle (m):	11.8
Boot capacity (L):	395

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GLC 300 e 4MATIC
EV Battery Capacity:	13.5 kWh
Pure Electric Range (WLTP):	27 – 28 miles
Electric Energy Consumption (kWh/100km):	17.5
Fuel Consumption (MPG):	117.7 – 122.8
Charging:	DC charging not available. On-board charger 7.4 kW AC (10% to 100%: 90 mins)
Top Speed:	143 mph (electric: 87 mph)
0-62 mph:	5.7 seconds
Drive:	All-wheel drive (AWD)
Electric Motor (kW):	90 kW
Max Power (hp):	211 (combustion engine)/ 122 (electric motor)
Torque (Nm):	350 (combustion engine)/ 440 (electric motor)
Transmission:	Automatic
Seats:	5
Doors:	5
Kerb Weight (kg):	2,030
Colours:	8
NCAP Safety Rating:	N/A

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GLC 300 de 4MATIC
EV Battery Capacity:	13.5 kWh
Pure Electric Range (WLTP):	27 miles
Electric Energy Consumption (kWh/100km):	17.9
Fuel Consumption (MPG):	148.7 – 156.9
Charging:	DC charging not available. On-board charger 7.4 kW AC (10% to 100%: 90 mins)
Top Speed:	143 mph (electric: 87 mph)
0-62 mph:	6.2 seconds
Drive:	All-wheel drive (AWD)
Electric Motor (kW):	90 kW
Max Power (hp):	194 (combustion engine)/ 122 (electric motor)
Torque (Nm):	400 (combustion engine)/ 440 (electric motor)
Transmission:	Automatic
Seats:	5
Doors:	5
Kerb Weight (kg):	2,115
Colours:	8
NCAP Safety Rating:	N/A

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History Of Electric Cars: Quick Facts

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• An electric vehicle (EV), also referred to as a battery-electric vehicle (BEV) is not a new invention or even an invention of modern times. Indeed, EVs were first developed more than a 100 years ago in the 19^th century. Put another way, Mahatma Gandhi was yet to be born, when inventors from various countries, to include European countries and the United States were already investing electric motors and batteries.  

• The first practical electric cars were built in the second half of the nineteenth century, with the first US electric car introduced in 1890. Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi had just turned 21! 

• Electric vehicles came into prominence in the early 1900’s, a time when horse-drawn carriages were the primary mode of transportation. Archived black and white photographs from that period show famous avenues like Madison Avenue in New York city filled with horse-drawn carriages. In stark contrast, a similar photograph taken a decade later of Madison Avenue showed not a single horse-drawn carriage. Instead the avenue  was filled with motor vehicles, a new invention. It was the beginning of man’s love affair with cars that has lasted more than a century and still going strong. 

• However, the uptake of electric vehicles in the early 20^th century was short-lived, as gasoline powered vehicles propelled by internal combustion engines (ICE) become the preferred mode of transportation.  

• Bottom-line, manufactures chose internal combustion engines over electric cars in the early 1900s for various reasons, to include, the costs and production volumes.  

• It is not definitive as to where EVs were invented or to credit a single inventor. However, one known electric motor (small-scale) was created in 1828 by Anyos Jedlik, a Hungarian inventor, engineer, physicist and Benedictine priest. Hungarians and Slovaks still consider him to be the unsung hero of the electric motor.  

• Shortly after, between 1832 and 1839, a Scottish inventor Robert Anderson created a large electric motor to drive a carriage, powered by non-rechargeable primary power cells. Through the 19^th century a number of inventors were inspired to develop electric motors to include, Thomas Davenport, an American from Vermont credited with building the first DC electric motor in America (1834). Unlike many of his contemporaries and other trying to build electric motors, Davenport did not have a background in either engineering or physics.  In fact, he was a blacksmith. 

• Move forward a few decades and at the end of the 19^th century, William Morrison created what is believed to be the first practical electric vehicle. Morrison, another American from Des Moines, Iowa, was a chemist who became interested in electricity. He build the first electric vehicle in 1887 in a carriage built by the Des Moines Buggy Co.  His first attempt was not a great success. In 1890, he attempted again, with more success. 12 EVs were built using a carriage built by the Shaver Carriage Company.

• The batteries were designed and developed by William Morrison. The vehicle had 24 batteries with an output of 112 amperes at 58 volts that took 10 hours to recharge. Available horsepower just under 4 horsepower. The vehicle could accommodate 6 individuals and had a top speed of 14 mph (22.50 km/h).

• Morrison’s success led to others also developing large-scale practical electric cars.  At the turn of the century cities like New York had 60 electric taxis. The first decade witnessed strong popularity for electric vehicles. However the popularity was short-lived as internal combustion engine (ICE) gasoline powered vehicles replaced the early electric vehicles. Henry Ford’s success with the then ubiquitous Ford Model T was the ‘beginning of the end’ for electric vehicles. The Model T was cheaper than the prevailing electric cars (US$ 650 Vs US$ 1,750) and could be manufactured at scale. As they say — the rest is history.  

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