Mobility is the lifeblood of our cities, the fuel that powers both our growing economies and desire for human connections. Today’s mobility solutions, however, also have to address another growing spectre — climate change. This is why the future of mobility will be driven by four key trends: electrification, shared, autonomy and digitisation. And in this regard, Mercedes-Benz is carving its own path.
When it comes to moving people in the future, Mercedes-Benz believes in electricity. But beyond treating it like a soulless source of power, the German automaker has engineered an electromotive ecosystem that’s centred on its two values: emotion and intelligence. Mercedes-Benz calls it EQ, or electric quotient.
Best Of Both Worlds
Of course, there are automotive purists who scoff at electric cars and are maddeningly desirous of the hefty petrol-fuelled grunts of an internal combustion engine. In this regard, one of Mercedes-Benz’s EQ solution is the perfect compromise: the plug-in hybrid E 300 e. The spiritual successor to E 350 e, the plug-in hybrid E 300 e represents next step in the future of mobility for Mercedes-Benz.
Underneath the hood is a 2.0-litre turbocharged engine that completes the century spring in a shade under 6 seconds — a comparable timing to its petrol counterpart. But the key component of the plug-in hybrid E 300 e is the 13.5kWh lithium ion battery that purportedly provides 50km of range, depending on how leaden your foot is on the accelerator pedal. The battery occupies the same amount of space as that in its predecessor, but offers more power, thanks to its modified cell chemistry.
The car can be driven in four different modes. Hybrid mode deploys both electric and petrol systems in the most economical way possible, while E-Mode is for all-electric driving, E-Save mode maintains battery charge levels, and Charge mode uses the combustion engine to recharge the battery while on the move. The plug-in hybrid E 300 e can be charged using a conventional home electric point although that takes about 3 hours. However, with a Type 2 wallbox charger, such as those you can find in several shopping malls in Singapore, the car can be fully charged in 1.5 hours.
More importantly, the plug-in hybrid E 300 e looks nothing like its electric counterparts. Its muscular front haunches hint at the power beneath the hood and the sports radiator grille at the front with the unmistakable Mercedes-Benz logo to signify it is part of the AMG Line.
The interior of the plug-in hybrid E 300 e is also exactly what we expect from a car bearing the Mercedes-Benz badge — high-performance accessories to benefit both driver and passenger. Besides two 12.3-inch high-resolution displays that combine to become a Widescreen Cockpit, it offers smartphone integration with Apple CarPlay™, and a Burmester Surround Sound System with a whopping 13 speakers and 590W-output.
The piece de resistance of the plug-in hybrid E 300 e is its powertrain management, which acts as the JARVIS to your Tony Stark. It is equipped with a plethora of electronic aids, including radar sensors, cameras and navigation systems, all of which take into account the topography and route. The result is a more efficient drive that saves you money and reduces carbon emissions that pollute the environment.
The Future Is Coming
As the world grapples with an increasingly greater environmental crisis, companies and organisations have stepped up and are chipping in with solutions in tandem. And Mercedes-Benz is staying on the crest with its visionary designs and future-forward innovations.
In 1885, Karl Benz built the world’s first production automobile: Benz Patent-Motorwagen, or patent motorcar. The three-wheeled automobile was regarded as a marvel of its time, and contained numerous new inventions in itself, including steel-spoked wheels and solid rubber tyres of Benz’s own design, as well as a single-speed transmission served by a simple belt system.
Over the next century, Benz refined his creation. Thanks to his spirit of relentless innovation, the Mercedes-Benz models of today consume up to 10 times less fuel than the diesel pioneer of 1936.
With visionary ideas and concepts that are smart and sustainable at the same time, Mercedes-Benz keeps your impact positive while powering you ahead.
Mercedes-Benz plug-in hybrid E 300 e 320 horsepower \ 350Nm of torque \ 0-100km/h in 5.7s \ 54km electric range
Discover more at the Mercedes-Benz website, or at the Mercedes-Benz Center, 301 Alexandra Road, Singapore 159968.