Electric Cars: The Basics
For those of you new to zero-emission electric driving, we recommend a read of the following articles:
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The Mercedes-Benz GLC 300 PHEV
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:
- Mercedes A-Class Hatchback PHEV
- Mercedes A-Class Saloon PHEV
- Mercedes B-Class Hatchback PHEV
- Mercedes C-Class Saloon PHEV
- Mercedes C-Class Estate PHEV
- Mercedes E-Class Saloon PHEV
- Mercedes E-Class Estate PHEV
- Mercedes S-Class Saloon PHEV
- Mercedes CLA Coupé PHEV
- Mercedes CLA Shooting Brake PHEV
- Mercedes GLA SUV PHEV
- Mercedes GLC SUV PHEV
- Mercedes GLC Coupé PHEV
- Mercedes GLE SUV PHEV
- Mercedes GLE Coupé PHEV
The GLC Coupé includes two plug-in hybrid electric vehicle (PHEV) options, to include a petrol/electric and a diesel/ electric. Coupé body styles are increasing in popularity, given the attractive exterior styling of a sloping roofline. The more aggressive roofline, does impact practicality a little i.e. lower headroom for rear seat passengers and also a smaller boot space. But for those that prefer style over practicality, the coupé is a winner.
The GLC PHEV is a good all-rounder for those keen to migrate to lower tailpipe-emission electric cars. The PHEV has 54-51g CO2/km tailpipe emissions. However the other real benefit is the lower driving costs, when driven on electric mode. Depending on when and where the electric vehicle (EV) is charged, the cost of electric driving can be as low as 5 cents to 10 cents per km i.e. significantly cheaper than using the combustion engine.
The Mercedes-Benz PHEV has a 13.5 kWh onboard EV battery, with a WLTP certified zero-emission electric range up to 43 km. Depending on driving style, weather condition, onboard services used etc, expect a real world-range closer to 35 km. Though the EV range is limited, it is still sufficient for shorter commutes. Like most electric vehicles (EVs), the GLC PHEV incorporates regenerative braking to increase driving efficiency i.e. EV range.
Using the electric mode, also improves the overall efficiency of the vehicle. Mercedes claims a fuel economy up to 2.2 l/100km for the GLC 300 e PHEV and up to 1.7 l/100km for the GLC 300 de PHEV. Of course, the real-world fuel economy will be less efficient, but far improved compared to the fuel economy of the conventional petrol variant.
The all-wheel drive GLC PHEV is available with either a diesel (2.0-litre, 4-cylinder) or petrol engine (2.0-litre, 4-cylinder), coupled with a 90 kW electric motor. Both the petrol and diesel PHEVs have a top speed of 230 km/h (electric: 140 km/h). 0-100 km/h performance is decent, with the petrol PHEV at 5.7 seconds and the diesel PHEV at 6.2 seconds.
The onboard charger is limited to 7.4 kW AC, with the EV capable of charging 10% to 100% in 90 mins via a dedicated domestic EV charger. Using a 3-PIN domestic socket will take up to 5 hours to charge the EV battery. We at e-zoomed discourage the use of using a domestic socket to charge an EV. It is always safer and more efficient to use an electric car charging point. The electric vehicle is not capable of fast DC charging.
We at e-zoomed recommend a ‘topping up’ approach to EV charging. It will help improve the overall efficiency of the vehicle and also improve the long-term maintenance of the onboard EV battery. Mercedes offers a 3 years or 100,000 km warranty for the EV battery.
There are certainly other cheaper alternatives for mid-sized plug-in hybrid SUVs, but of course the quality will not be a Mercedes. The GLC PHEV has both an attractive exterior appeal and a high quality, technology-filled interior, to include: the Mercedes-Benz User Experience (MBUX) in car infotainment system. MBUX can be voice activated, personalised and uses Artificial Intelligence (AI) to learn and adapt over time. It is able to predict personal habits, such as navigation for frequently-driven routes, or the radio stations etc.
In regards to practicality, the GLC PHEV does have to compromise boot space for the placement of the EV battery and coupé roofline. The EV has a 350 L cargo volume.
Bottom-line, electric driving is good for the environment and the wallet!
| PROS | CONS |
|---|---|
| Attractive coupe styling | Blind spots (rear). Sloping roofline impacts rear seat practicality |
| Good level of standard equipment and technology | Limited real-world electric range and some alternatives have better fuel efficiency |
| All-wheel drive as standard | Cheaper alternatives available |
Gallery
The Mercedes-Benz GLC 300 PHEV (credit: Mercedes)
| At A Glance | |
|---|---|
| EV Type: | Plug-In Hybrid Electric Vehicle (PHEV) |
| Body Type: | Coupé |
| Engine: | Petrol/ Electric |
| Available In Ireland: | No |
| Variants (1 Option) |
|---|
| Mercedes-Benz GLC 300 e (from € N/A) |
| EV Battery & Emissions | |
|---|---|
| EV Battery Type: | Lithium-ion |
| EV Battery Capacity: | Available in one battery size: 13.5 kWh |
| Charging: | DC charging not available.On-board charger 7.4 kW AC (10% to 100%: 90 mins) |
| Charge Port: | Type 2 |
| EV Cable Type: | Type 2 |
| Tailpipe Emissions: | 54 – 51g (CO2/km) |
| Warranty: | 6 years or 100,000 km |
| Average Cost Of Residential Charging | |
|---|---|
| Battery net capacity : 8.8 kWh | € 2.10 |
| Battery net capacity : 11.6 kWh | € 2.78 |
| Battery net capacity : 12.0 kWh | € 2.87 |
| Battery net capacity : 13.10 kWh | € 3.14 |
| Battery net capacity : 14.10 kWh | € 3.37 |
- Note 1: The average cost of residential electricity in Ireland varies depending on the region, supplier and type of energy used. An average for Ireland is 23.97 cents/kWh.
- Note 2: Not all EV manufactures make available the data on net EV battery capacity, and in a number of instances the EV battery capacity advertised, does not state if it is gross or net capacity. In general, usable EV battery capacity is between 85% to 95% of the gross available capacity.
| Charging Times (Overview) | |
|---|---|
| Slow charging AC (3 kW – 3.6 kW): | 6 – 12 hours (dependent on size of EV battery & SOC) |
| Fast charging AC (7 kW – 22 kW): | 3 – 8 hours (dependent on size of EV battery & SoC) |
| Rapid charging AC (43 kW): | 0-80%: 20 mins to 60 mins (dependent on size of EV battery & SoC) |
- Note 1: SoC: state-of-charge
| Dimensions | |
|---|---|
| Height (mm): | 1622 |
| Width (mm): | 2096 |
| Length (mm): | 4731 |
| Wheelbase (mm): | 2939 |
| Turning Circle (m): | 11.8 |
| Boot capacity (L): | 350 |
| GLC 300 e 4MATIC | |
|---|---|
| EV Battery Capacity: | 13.5 kWh |
| Pure Electric Range (WLTP): | 43 km |
| Electric Energy Consumption (kWh/100km): | 17.6 |
| Fuel Consumption (l/100km): | 2.2 |
| Charging: | DC charging not available.On-board charger 7.4 kW AC (10% to 100%: 90 mins) |
| Top Speed: | 230 km/h (electric: 140 km/h) |
| 0-100 km/h: | 5.7 seconds |
| Drive: | All-wheel drive (AWD) |
| Electric Motor (kW): | 90 kW |
| Max Power (hp): | 122 (electric motor) |
| Torque (Nm): | 440 (electric motor) |
| Transmission: | Automatic |
| Seats: | 5 |
| Doors: | 5 |
| Kerb Weight (kg): | 2,040 |
| Colours: | 8 |
| NCAP Safety Rating: | N/A |
| GLC 300 de 4MATIC | |
|---|---|
| EV Battery Capacity: | 13.5 kWh |
| Pure Electric Range (WLTP): | 41 km |
| Electric Energy Consumption (kWh/100km): | 18.0 |
| Fuel Consumption (l/100km): | 1.7 |
| Charging: | DC charging not available.On-board charger 7.4 kW AC (10% to 100%: 90 mins) |
| Top Speed: | 230 km/h (electric: 140 km/h) |
| 0-100 km/h: | 6.2 seconds |
| Drive: | All-wheel drive (AWD) |
| Electric Motor (kW): | 90 kW |
| Max Power (hp): | 122 (electric motor) |
| Torque (Nm): | 440 (electric motor) |
| Transmission: | Automatic |
| Seats: | 5 |
| Doors: | 5 |
| Kerb Weight (kg): | 2,135 |
| Colours: | 8 |
| NCAP Safety Rating: | N/A |
Electric Vehicles (EVs): Jargons
There is no doubt, in that, for those new to electric driving, the terminology can be both daunting and confusing. We have chosen a few jargons to help you get more familiar with electric vehicles (EVs)! We also recommend reading our article ‘Electric Car Jargon Buster‘ for a more comprehensive list of terms.
| Glossary: Electric Vehicles (EVs) | |
|---|---|
| Alternating Current (AC): | What is alternating current? Though we may not be familiar with this term, we use alternating current everyday in our homes to power our appliances! Alternating current is a type of electric current, in which the direction of the flow of ‘electrons’ switches back and forth at regular intervals or cycles. When an electric car is charged at home, the type of electric current used, is alternating current. |
| Direct Current (DC): | What is direct current? Direct current (DC) is a type of electric current that flows in only one direction i.e. uni-directional. DC enables the constant flow of electrons from an area of high electron density to an area of low electron density. DC is quite common in our day-to-day lives. Many of the appliances we use on a regular basis that are operated by batteries, use DC. A mobile phone, a laptop, a torch light etc. In electric cars, the onboard EV battery also uses direct current to store energy. |
| Internal Combustion Engine Vehicle (ICEV): | What is an internal combustion engine car? Put simply, conventional petrol and diesel vehicles are powered by an internal combustion engine (ICE). These vehicles ‘combust’ fuel with the help of an oxidizer (typically oxygen from the air). These vehicles mostly use fossil fuels, like petrol, diesel, jet fuel etc. These vehicles are characterised by high tailpipe emissions, which pollute the local air. |
| One-Pedal Driving: | What is one-pedal driving? In one-pedal driving, the EV slows down or stops, when the pedal is released. One-pedal functionality reduce the need to use the brake pedal, for speed reduction or stopping. Of course, the brake pedal is still the best way to hold a vehicle in place at a complete stop. |
| Smart EV Charger: | What is a smart EV charger? A smart or ‘intelligent’ electric car charger, is a type of EV charger that enables smart functionality, to include, more control by the user, and communication between the EV charging station, the operator, the utility and the national grid. |
While e-zoomed uses reasonable efforts to provide accurate and up-to-date information, some of the information provided is gathered from third parties and has not been independently verified by e-zoomed. While the information from the third party sources is believed to be reliable, no warranty, express or implied, is made by e-zoomed regarding the accuracy, adequacy, completeness, legality, reliability or usefulness of any information. This disclaimer applies to both isolated and aggregate uses of this information.
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