Mercedes Plans Electric Version Stunning SLS in 2013

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The all-new Mercedes-Benz AMG has been welcomed with rave reviews from the media. But before the production car had been unveiled, Mercedes and its AMG division, which created the spectacular gullwing machine, had confirmed that an electrically driven version, dubbed e Drive, was in development. This electric super car could be in production as soon as 2013.

STAR PERFORMER Stunning SLS in 2013

Two years past a dyed-in-the-wool alternative vehicle assemble was produced surrounded by AMG to bring about on this pioneering car. Four thrilling motors positioned virtually the wheels (not focal point motors, to reduce unsprung mass) and coupled to a gearbox on all axle provide the drive with a combined summit power output of 392kW and a most torque of 880Nm. Each veer can be accelerated individually, which must benefit the e Drive dynamics.

The 400V battery is topped up under braking. “The packaging is much more complicated than a conventional drivetrain,” explains project chief Wolf Zimmermann. “Every motor has its own inverter and we have a big battery pack down the middle, so we had to increase the size of the tunnel a little to accommodate it. Removing the engine, gearbox and fuel tank creates space for more battery packs; there are six in all.”

Equally development of the regular SLS’s packaging began, consideration was furthermore agreed to the e Drive car, with appropriate spaces modest pro the at-that-time unspecific ed motors, batteries, and gearboxes. Indeed, Zimmermann acknowledges with the intention of the pace of development in the fi eld is such with the intention of questions still wait as to the exact origin and specification of by smallest amount approximately of these items, although it’s doable a JV linking Daimler and Evonik Industries may possibly provide the battery equipment.

Zimmermann revealed to E&H that he was still being pitched by potential motor suppliers at the 2009 Frankfurt Motor Show. However, what is already certain is that this no-compromise electric super car will also not compromise on safety. “All the high-voltage electric items are integrated inside the standard crash zones,” assures Zimmermann. “We want to do a vehicle without any crash safety compromises, whether it’s European or US crash tests.

“At the moment our test car has 48kWh of energy so the range is about 200-250km, although of course it decreases if you drive fast.

But this is a modular conception: The motors and gearboxes are the same in the front as in the back, and may perhaps clearly be adapted on behalf of make use of in other vehicles. “From the development thinking, it’s really on the sharpness,” continues Zimmermann. “It’s not undemanding: If you crave 400kW it follows that you move with 400V, which next to the jiffy is the top figure voltage in vehicles, so we suffer 1,000A. But the car is instantly built up and everything is working as we anticipated; we’ll drive it this day, and in 2010 we’ll work out certain difficult.”