Electric Merc here next year

The first fully electric SUV from Mercedes-Benz under its EQC brand is due to start production in 2019.

The Mercedes-Benz EQC is expected to arrive in New Zealand in the second half of 2019 and is priced below NZ$160,000, Mercedes-Benz Australia/Pacific public relations manager Jerry Stamoulis says.

Daimler AG is investing 10 billion euros (NZ$17.6 billion) in expansion of its EQ (“electric intelligence”) portfolio, and more than one billion euros (NZ$1.76b) in global battery production, company chairman and Mercedes-Benz Cars chief executive officer Dieter Zetsche says.

That will see about 130 electrified models produced in seven years, including all-electric, plug-in hybrid and mild hybrid versions.

First out, the all-wheel-drive SUV is expected to have around a 450km range, and a combined power consumption of 22.2kWh/100km; with zero carbon dioxide emissions.

Two electric motors (front and rear axles) have 300kW combined output and can get the vehicle to 100km/h in 5.1 seconds, the top speed governed to 180km/h.

The EQC has five driving modes -Comfort, Eco, Max Range, Sport, and an individually adaptable program. In the more economical driving modes, such as Eco Assist, the haptic accelerator pedal prompts the driver to conserve power by advising when it is appropriate to come off the accelerator.

A trailer coupling is available on request, with the maximum towing capacity (braked) at 1800kg.

The battery pack – with an eight-year warranty or 160,000km – can be recharged to 80% in about 40 minutes using 110kW DC charging, or around 11 hours using a 7.2kW home charger.

Type 2 CCS charging is used.