Mercedes Plans Electric A-Class for 2010; Tesla Said to Supply Batteries
By Scott Doggett July 1, 2008
Above, a gas-powered A-Class Mercedes. Daimler says an electric version of the small family car is planned.
By Scott Doggett, Contributor
Mercedes-Benz is planning to launch an electric version of the A-class small family car in 2010, according to press reports.
The four-door hatchback will have lithium-ion batteries and be produced at an initial rate of between 500 and 1,000 cars year, the German weekly Automobilwoche reported Monday. Production should climb quickly, however.
In an interview with German business daily, WirtschaftsWoche, Thomas Weber, a Mercedes-Benz board member responsible for research and vehicle development, let it be known that the company is building what was originally meant to be the fuel cell-powered A-Class model as an all-electric model.
In the Automobilwoche report, an unidentified senior manager at Mercedes-Benz said that the A-class is an ideal candidate because its "sandwich" construction means the basic layout of the vehicle does not have to be changed much. The car was developed to accommodate a fuel cell and therefore has a double floor that can fit the cell, the manager said. This space can instead be used for the lithium-ion batteries.
In a separate article, Automobilwoche reported that U.S. electric-car maker Tesla Motors is expected to supply the lithium-ion batteries. The magazine didn't reveal the sources for its story and Tesla spokeswoman Colette Niazmand wouldn't comment on the subject when Green Car Advisor inquired today.
Tesla has already been working with Mercedes on an electric Smart car that is also due to be launched in 2010. Tesla bundles together conventional lithium-ion batteries commonly used for laptops in its all-electric Roadster. Both the Smart and A-class should have a range of around 120 miles between charges, the German weekly said.
The electric Smart and A-class cars reportedly will be built at existing manufacturing plants in Hambach and Rastatt respectively, but Mercedes is considering building plant for the exclusive production of electric vehicle.
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yes, but will it have a spare, unlike the SMART??
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