The Mercedes-Benz S Class Plug-In Hybrid Saloon: 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 S Class Saloon 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 full-size luxury S Class saloon was introduced in 1972 and is at the top end of luxury saloons in the global market. The executive saloon has sold well since its introduction and is considered a flagship vehicle for the German automotive manufacturer. The premium saloon is currently in its seventh generation. The S Class includes a plug-in hybrid electric vehicle (PHEV) variant, the S 580 e L AMG Line.

The Mercedes-Benz PHEV has a 28.6 kWh onboard EV battery, with a WLTP certified zero-emission electric range up to 103 km. Both, the EV battery size and electric range are above average, when compared to other PHEVs. In general, PHEVs have an e-range between 40 km to 50 km.

Of course, the real-world EV range will be lower, impacted by a number of factors, to include: driving style, weather, road conditions, passenger load, services used in the EV and more. Expect a real-world electric range closer to 85 km.

Nevertheless, the EV offers much scope for lowering the cost of motoring for city and motorway driving. Electric driving 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 0.6 l/100km for the PHEV. Of course, the real-world fuel economy will be less efficient than claimed efficiency, but far improved compared to the fuel economy of the conventional petrol variant.

The PHEV is capable of DC charging up to 60 kW (10% – 80%: 20 mins). Not all plug-in electric cars are capable of DC fast charging. But given the price tag of the EV, DC charging compatibility is a must!

Though the EV has an 11 kW onboard charger (10% – 100%: 2 hrs 15 mins), the majority of homes in India will not be able to take advantage of the faster 3-phase AC charging, given that most residential premises have a single-phase power supply. A single-phase domestic EV charger like easee, will charge the EV in under 4 hours.

As one would expect for the S Class, the interior is luxurious and technology-laden. The EV also has a number of safety features to include: active blind spot assist, active distance assist DISTRONIC, active emergency stop assist, active lane change assist etc.

The interior of the PHEV is just as well specified, to include: climatised rear seats, active multicontour front seats with inflatable air chambers and massage function, MBUX augmented reality head-up display and leather upholstery.

The electric vehicle (EV) pairs 3.0-litre (6 cylinder) petrol engine with an electric motor (110 kW). The rear-wheel drive EV can achieve 0-100 km/h in 5.2 seconds and has a 250 km/h top speed (in electric mode, the top speed is 140 km/h).

For those seeking luxury with lower tailpipe emissions (19g CO2/km), the S Class PHEV is well suited. Do keep in mind that driving the PHEV on the electric mode will result in zero-tailpipe emissions. 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
A good executive saloon, high quality interiors and high specifications	One of the more expensive PHEVs
Good EV battery size and electric range	Only available as a rear-wheel drive
Good fuel efficiency for its class and low tailpipe emissions	Some may find the exterior styling outdated

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The Mercedes-Benz S Class Saloon PHEV (credit: Mercedes)

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

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Variants (1 Option)
Mercedes-Benz S Class (Rs N/A)

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EV Battery & Emissions
EV Battery Type:	Lithium-ion
EV Battery Capacity:	Available in one battery size: 28.6 kWh
Charging:	DC charging up to 60 kW (10% – 80%: 20 mins). On-board charger 11 kW AC
Charge Port:	Type 2
EV Cable Type:	Type 2
Tailpipe Emissions:	19g (CO2/km)
Battery Warranty:	6 years or 100,000 km

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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):	1503
Width (mm):	2109
Length (mm):	5289
Wheelbase (mm):	3106
Turning Circle (m):	12.5
Boot capacity (L):	350

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S 580 e L
EV Battery Capacity:	28.6 kWh
Pure Electric Range (WLTP):	103 km
Electric Energy Consumption (kWh/100km):	19.9 – 19.7
Fuel Consumption (l/100km):	0.6
Charging:	DC charging up to 60 kW (10% – 80%: 20 mins). On-board charger 11 kW AC
Top Speed:	250 km/h
0-100 km/h:	5.2 seconds
Drive:	Rear-wheel drive (RWD)
Electric Motor (kW):	110 kW
Max Power (hp):	367 (combustion engine)/ 150 (electric motor)
Torque (Nm):	500 (combustion engine)/ 480 (electric motor)
Transmission:	Automatic
Seats:	5
Doors:	4
Kerb Weight (kg):	2,385
Colours:	10
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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