Mercedes-Benz is currently sending onto the roads the widest electric and hybrid car range. Nine of them will compete in the seventh edition of the Silvretta E-Car Rally, on the 7th and 8th of July, as a demonstration of how far the technology has come.
The electric and hybrid automobiles will run along the Silvretta High Alpine Road in Austria, a road considered to be one of the most beautiful in the Alps. 26 locally emission-free electric cars and almost 200 classic cars, will compete in the rally. 224 kilometers is the distance from the start to the finish line, even reaching an overall difference in altitude of 11,208 meters. Demanding 5291 meter uphill gradients will consume plenty of energy, but it can be recovered on the 5917 meters in total of downhill sections.
The 2016 edition of the Silvretta E-Carr Rally is the seventh time in a row for Mercedes-Benz to take part in it. This time, the German premium car maker throws no less than nine models into the race.
- Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG Coupe Electric Drive is none other than last year’s winner. A major competitor since 2010, the electric SLS comes with a peak output of 522 kW, a maximum torque of 1000 Nm and only needs 3.9 seconds for the 0 – 100 km/h sprint. It is the world’s fastest electrically powered series-production car.
- Mercedes-Benz B 250 e (three vehicles), featuring a 132 kW electric engine and developing a peak torque of 340 Nm, runs the 0 – 100 km/h distance in 7.9 seconds and boasts an electric range of approximately 200 km.
- Mercedes-Benz S 500 e, the luxury limousine that blends exclusivity with the ultramodern hybrid drive configuration, comes with a system output of 325 kW and 650 Nm of torque. It needs 5.2 seconds to accelerate from 0 to 100 km/h and features an electric range of up to 33 km.
- Mercedes-Benz E 350 e (two vehicles), fitted with the 9G-Tronic plug-in hybrid transmission, the E integrates the latest generation of electric motors. It comes with an output of 65 kW and a 440 Nm torque. The business sedan only needs 2.1 liters of fuel for 100 km and is able to cover between 18 and 33 km, depending on the driving profile.
- Mercedes-Benz GLC 350 e 4Matic is the mid-size SUV that hits a 235 km/h top speed and boasts a best-in-class system output of 235 kW (320 HP). The all-electric and emission-free range can reach 34 km. 5.9 seconds it takes for the GLC 350 e to reach 100 km/h from a standstill.
- Mercedes-Benz B-Class F-Cell is a veteran of the Alpine route. With an impressive range of about 400 km, the fuel-cell B holds a power output of 100 kW and 290 Nm of torque. The vehicle also comes with a very short refueling time of around three minutes only.
Daimler is a pioneer in environmental protection, investing 14.5 billion euros in the research and development of eco technologies in the next two years, of which 5.4 billion in passenger cars alone. There is no other manufacturer holding a portfolio that even comes close to the number of electric vehicles and mobility solutions provided by Mercedes-Benz.
After the S 500 e, the C 350 e (Saloon, Estate and long-wheelbase version made in China for China), the GLE 500 e 4Matic and the GLC 350 e 4Matic, models number seven and eight, the GLC Coupe 350 e 4Matic and the E 350 e are already on their way to dealerships.
