Mercedes-Benz recently revealed that it is planning to add 10 more models in its plug-in hybrid cars. The company said it is targeting that number by 2017. The German luxury car maker revealed that it is expecting to release at least one new model carrying the technology in every four months.
Based on the new naming system of Mercedes, the individual powertrain designations of its vehicles will be indicated by a small letter following the model name. In this case, its plug-in hybrid variants will be identifiable with an “e”. The latest example of a model to adopt the updated naming scheme is the C 350 Plug-In Hybrid, which has been renamed as the C 350 e.
From 2012 to the present, Mercedes introduced nine hybrid and electric drive vehicles, these were:
- smart fortwo electric drive in 2012
- E 300 BlueTEC HYBRID in 2012
- SLS AMG Coupe Electric Drive in 2013
- S 400 HYBRID in 2010
- S 300 BlueTEC HYBRID in 2013
- C 300 BlueTEC HYBRID in 2014
- B-Class Electric Drive in 2014
- S 500 PLUG-IN HYBRID in 2014
- C 350 e in 2015
Although still in its concept stage, Mercedes hinted that the V-ision e, a Plug-In Hybrid van based on the existing V-Class will also join its lineup soon. Another foreseen addition to the range is the GLE Plug-In Hybrid.
It should be noted that once Mercedes releases the plug-in hybrid versions of the V-Class and GLE, the two vehicles will be put in the history books of the brand as its first plug-in hybrid van and first plug-in hybrid SUV.