If you’re a fan of plug-in hybrid vehicles, you might be interested to learn that Mercedes-Benz has recently confirmed that the company will be aiming to release 10 new plug-in hybrid vehicles by 2017. As it stands the company will be releasing at least two new plug-in hybrid models in the US this year in the fall.
This includes the 2016 C350e and the S550e, although Mercedes has also promised that more vehicles from the company’s C-Class range, which includes the GLE-Class SUV, will get the hybrid treatment as well.
According to Professor Dr. Thomas Weber, a member of the Board of Management of Daimler AG, “Plug-in hybrids offer our customers the best of both worlds; in the city they can drive in all-electric mode, while on long journeys they benefit from the combustion engine’s range. In addition, hybridisation makes the combustion engine more efficient and brings with it a special type of dynamic performance – making driving an absolute pleasure.”
Through this move, the company is hoping to reduce their overall CO2 emissions. The latest numbers reveal that the company is at 129g/km which is actually 5g lower compared to the year before, so hopefully with the release of more plug-in hybrids, overall emissions can be lowered even further.
For those who are unfamiliar with plug-in hybrids, the concept is similar to a regular hybrid in which both electricity and gas will be used. However in the case of plug-in hybrids, the electric motor will be the main driver of the car with the gasoline engine helping to charge it when it begins to run low. This is versus hybrids in which the gas engine is the main driver while the electric motor assists in short distances or when accelerating.
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