Mercedes-Benz, simply known as Mercedes, is a leading global luxury automative manufacturer based in Germany. The company is headquartered in Stuttgart and is famed for its high quality passenger vehicles, to include the Mercedes-Maybach. However, the company is also a leader in manufacturing commercial vehicles, to include the plug-in Mercedes eSprinter commercial EV and the plug-in Mercedes eVito electric van.
Mercedes-Benz EQ is the sub-brand used by the company for its portfolio of battery-electric vehicles (BEVs), plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs) and mild hybrids. The pure electric cars are branded as EQ, while the PHEVs are branded as EQ Power. The mild hybrid vehicles are branded as EQ Boost. The PHEV portfolio includes:
For those of you new to zero-emission electric driving, we recommend a read of the following articles:
The Mercedes-Benz GLE (formerly M-Class) premium mid-sized SUV was introduced in 1997. It is currently in its fourth generation, which was unveiled at the 2018 Paris Motor Show. The GLE PHEV SUV is only available as a diesel/electric variant.
For a start the GLE PHEV does stand out from the average plug-in hybrid electric vehicle, given the 31.2 kWh onboard EV battery. In general, most PHEVs tend to have an EV battery smaller than 15 kWh. With the larger EV battery, the GLE 350 de plug-in hybrid SUV also commands a higher EV range, in comparison to other PHEVs.
Mercedes-Benz claims the PHEV has an electric range up to 58 miles (WLTP certified). Real-world range will be lower, impacted by a number of factors, to include: driving profile, braking profile, road conditions, weather conditions, passenger load etc. Either way, the electric vehicle (EV) should be able to deliver over 50 miles with zero-tailpipe emissions. This should be sufficient for most urban needs and also for shorter motorway driving.
The all-wheel drive Mercedes PHEV can be charged using both AC and DC charging. The EV can be charged up to 60 kW DC (10% – 80%: 20 mins). Keep in mind that most plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs) do not offer DC charging.
However, given the premium price tag, it is imperative that this PHEV offer fast DC charging! For AC charging, the electric car has a 7.4 kW onboard charger, allowing the EV to be charged up to 100% via a domestic single-phase EV charger in 3 hours and 30 minutes. We discourage the use of a 3-PIN domestic socket for EV charging.
We at e-zoomed recommend a ‘topping up’ approach to EV charging. This way, EV range is available to use and regular charging also improves the long-term maintenance of the onboard EV battery. Mercedes offers a 6 years or 62,000 miles warranty for the EV battery.
The 100 kW electric motor is coupled with a 2.0-litre (4-cylinder) diesel engine (a petrol variant is not available). Overall performance of the Mercedes PHEV is respectable: 0-62 mph in 6.8 seconds and a 130 mph top speed (320 bhp/ 700 Nm). Given the hybrid engine configuration, the plug-in SUV is more economical to drive compared to the conventional internal combustion engine (ICE) variant.
Mercedes claims a fuel economy up to 353 mpg. Of course, the more the vehicle is driven on the electric mode, the greater the potential for fuel economy and savings. If the EV is driven primarily using the internal combustion engine (ICE), then the fuel economy will be closer to 39.2 mpg.
The EV is a good blend of luxury and practicality. The SUV can seat up to 5 adults, with ample headroom and legroom for adults seated on the rear seats (7 seater option not available). Despite the large onboard EV battery, the EV has up to 490 L cargo volume, but smaller compared to the conventional ICE variant (630 L). The PHEV is technology-packed, to include the Mercedes-Benz User Experience (MBUX) infotainment system that used Artificial Intelligence (AI) to predict the drivers behaviour and needs.
The GLE PHEV is also well suited for company car drivers, given the low tailpipe emissions (20g CO2/km) and lower Benefit-in-Kind (BiK-8%) tax liability. You can lease electric vehicles (EVs) via e-zoomed at very competitive prices!
The Mercedes-Benz GLE 350 de SUV PHEV (credit: Mercedes)
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