Mercedes-Benz India to bring plug-in hybrids and electric vehicles by 2018
Mercedes-Benz announced their plans to bring their range of plug-in hybrids and electric vehicle in India by the year 2018. And the company expects to gain an early bird advantage in their venture as the plans are two years ahead of the government’s plan to introduce a stringent emission norm. Under the Auto Fuel Policy, the plans were to implement the BS-V from April 2022 and BS-VI norms from April 2024. But now, skipping the BS-V, the plan is to implement the BS-VI norms from 2020.
Mercedes- Benz India MD and chief executive Roland Folger said in an interview, “We can easily meet the BS-VI requirements. All we need is a year to make the changes. And we can bring in models with alternative drive trains including plug-in hybrids and electric vehicles from our global portfolio. We already have one of the widest ranges of such models globally. We have our cars ready but we need support and time from the government. We will be BS-VI compatible by 2018 itself.”
The German premium vehicle manufacturer has the largest lineup of plug-in hybrids already and yet is greatly investing in the technology. An investment of 500mn euro into a second battery production plant at Kamenz in Germany, for instance. The parent company, Daimler also acquired a 10 per cent stakes in Tesla Motors, in April 2010. Mercedes is even developing a multi-model electric vehicle architecture for battery-powered cars. The company said it expects its electric mobility arm to be in the six-digit figures by year 2020.
Internationally, Mercedes' electric vehicles includes the Smart Fortwo Electric Drive, which is in its third generation. The Smart Fortwo Coupe, Smart Fortwo Cabrio, and the Smart Forfour Electric Drive. The German carmaker's other electric models comprises the B250e. On the plug-in hybrids, Mercedes has 13 models, including the S500e, C350e, the GLE500e 4MATIC, and the GLC350e 4MATIC, the GLC Coupe 350e 4MATIC, and the E350e. Mercedes is also launching the face-lifted version of the S 500 e next year. Also the carmaker will develop the GLC F-Cell, the company's first fuel-cell powered vehicle with plug-in technology which will go into production from 2017.
