Mercedes-Benz Electric Luxury Vehicles - Electric, PHEV and Mild Hybrid

With the popularity of EVs growing in the last few years, more and more vehicle brands are making the switch to electric vehicles, whether that be full EVs, plugin/full hybrids, or mild hybrids. The Mercedes-Benz range of EVs are some of the highest class EVs on the market, but what’s the difference between the type, make and model? Well, we’re here to help.

We have broken down each type of electric vehicle (mild hybrid, plug-in hybrid, and EV) to show what each one can do for you. Each of these has something different to offer, from the EQS to GLS, finding your first or next EV will be a dream.

The Mercedes Electric Vehicles

Electric vehicles or EVs run on an electric motor rather than the usual internal combustion engines. Mercedes-Benz has 5 EVs available and 1 coming soon, these are known as the EQ range. These consist of SUVs, Saloons, and vans/people carriers. Each of these vehicles has something different to offer.

One of the biggest concerns with electric vehicles is charging. Mercedes has ‘Mercedes Me Charge’, “one registration, one contract, one billing.” Controlled through an app, Mercedes Me Charge gives you access to the fast-charging stations. Through the app, it will show you the exact location of the vehicle and the price at the current price. The fast-charging stations are also available to use using the RFID card and the Mercedes-EQ Vehicle Head unit. If you are looking to charge at home, a home charger is also available. These are 7Kw chargers that are available to buy.

But what are the benefits to driving a Mercedes-EQ? Because the EQs do not produce any emissions, you will not have to pay any road tax, congestion charges, or the emission zone charge. The EQ range is exempt from the ultra-low emission zones. With the EQs being fully electric, the running cost is lower than your standard petrol or diesel engine vehicle.

Here are the three main EQs and what they have to offer.

EQS - Saloon

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The EQS was the first EV created by Mercedes-Benz. On a full charge, the EQS has a range of 453 miles and charges in just 31 minutes using the rapid charging stations. If it’s speed you are interested in, the EQS is able to do 0-60mph in just 5.5 seconds and has a top speed of 130 mph. The EQS is jammed packed with technology. The MBUX infotainment system and the Mercedes Me Connect comes as standard allowing you to control so much from your phone.

EQB - SUV

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The EBQ, a fully electric SUV with a lot of potential. Although it doesn’t have the highest range on this list, with 247 miles, the EQB won’t have you hanging around for very long with the ability to charge in 30 minutes. The MBUX multimedia system as well as the Mercedes Me Connect, which allows you to control everything from your phone. The EQB has a top speed of 99mph and can do 0-60mph in 6 seconds. The EQB is perfect for families or the everyday commuters.

EQV - Van

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The EQV, the first all-electric Mercedes V-Class. With a range of 213 miles and able to charge in approximately 45 minutes. Fitted with amazing technology that can do just about everything, including voice control, Mercedes Me Connect, and the MBUX infotainment system, everything can be done at a touch of a button. Although the EQV isn’t made for speed, it does have a top speed of 98mph and 150kW of horsepower.

The Mercedes Plug-in Hybrids range

Mercedes has a wide range of plug-in hybrids, 9 different plug-in hybrids are available and a few are available as different vehicle types including Saloon and Coupé. Each of these vehicles have something different to offer, whether it be speed, range on fully electric, or what the interior includes.

Mercedes-Benz are known for their different classes of cars, ranging from the A-Class to the X-Class, but how do these differ between each. Well, to put it simply, each class relates to each vehicle type. For example, the A-Class is a “subcompact luxury hatchback and sedans”, the E-Class is an “Executive sedans, station wagons, coupes and convertibles” and the X-Class is “luxury pickup trucks”. For more information on the different Mercedes classes, click here.

No matter if you choose a fully electric or a plug-in hybrid, charging works the same. You will have access to Mercedes Me Charging. This is accessible through the Mercedes Me app, the RFID card. Through the app, you will be able to see the exact location of where your car is parked and the current price of charging. A 7Kw charger is also available to buy, allowing you to charge your vehicle from home.

But what are the benefits to driving a plug-in hybrid? Because these are not fully reliant on petrol or diesel, these are more cost-effective and cheaper to run. An example would be the CLA, because this has a range of 43 miles on electric-only, you would only need to fill up on longer journeys, a quick trip to the shops would be able to run on electric. Another benefit is that a plug-in hybrid produces fewer carbon emissions than a car fully reliant on petrol or diesel.

S Class - Saloon

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The S-Class, one of (if not) the best-known classes made by Mercedes. The S-Class is a head-turning vehicle that is packed with features. Some of the features include the MBUX infotainment system, 3D drivers display, wireless smartphone integration and heads-up display. The S-Class also features the Mercedes Me connect, allowing you to do a lot from your phone. If you are a speed type of person, the S-Class has a top speed of 155 mph and can do 0-60mph in 5.2 seconds. The S-Class has an all-electric range of 27 miles with a 67L petrol engine and is able to charge in 20 minutes with a rapid charger.

CLA - Coupé and Shooting Brake

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The Mercedes CLA, available as a Coupé and a Shooting Brake. Fitted with a petrol 4-cylinder 160 horsepower engine as well as an electric 102 horsepower motor. These combined provide the ability to do 0-60mph in 6.8 seconds and have a top speed of 149 mph. Just like other electric models, the CLA is equipped with the MBUX infotainment system and the Mercedes Me, allowing you to control everything with your phone. On all-electric, the CLA has a range of 43 miles and takes 2-3 hours to charge.

GLC - SUV

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Made for off-roading, the Mercedes-Benz GLC is an SUV you don’t want to miss. With an all-electric range of 27 miles and a 50 litre petrol engine, you are guaranteed a comfortable smooth journey whether you are sitting on a motorway or off-roading it. The GLC has a top speed of 143mph and can do 0-60 in 5.7 seconds. Just like every vehicle on this list, the GLC has the MBUX infotainment system and Mercedes Me Connect. Packages are available to add to the GLC including the Driving Assistance Package.

Other plug-in hybrid models include:

A-Class (hatchback and saloon)
C-Class (saloon and estate)
GLA SUV
GLE SUV

Mercedes Mild Hybrid

If you are looking for a petrol or diesel engine car with a bit of a boost, a mild hybrid might just be for you.

But how does a mild hybrid differ from a plug-in hybrid? A mild hybrid vehicle is fitted with “EQ Boost” technology. Unlike a plug-in hybrid, the electric motor doesn’t work separately from the rest of the engine, allowing more power to be added when needed. Although they are known as a mild hybrid, these vehicles are built to perform.

Let's compare a regular Mercedes engine with the EQ boost. The Mercedes M256 engine (found in the E-Class models) has 362 horsepower and 369 Nm of Torque. However, when the EQ Boost is in use, the horsepower is increased to 383, adding a boost of 21 horsepower and cranks up the low-end torque. This is also saving fuel.

Unlike a plug-in hybrid, you do not need to charge a mild hybrid. It’s as simple as driving the car and refueling it with petrol or diesel and the battery will charge itself. This is done by recovering energy when the car brakes or slows down. The battery can also recharge when on a steady drive, however, this is only done when it is efficient to do so, calculated by the car.

But what are the benefits of driving a mild hybrid car? Because of the boost that the EQ Boost provides, this improves the car's performance. It also improves the car's fuel economy.

Each of the following vehicles are fitted with a Mild Hybrid drive, which comes as standard:

Changing to an electric car, whether it be mild, plug-in, or fully electric can be a difficult decision. Hopefully, we have made it easier and finding your dream electric car a smoother process.

Interested in a Mercedes-Benz, check out our range of Mercedes vehicles.

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