Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG E-Cell Prototype

[KillerHERTZ]

Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG E-Cell prototype previewed​

As requested by CarNut

Mercedes-Benz has shown a sneak preview of the SLS AMG E-Cell Prototype. While some future competitors are still unveiling hybrids, the E-Cell will be powered in full by electricity through lithium-ion polymer battery modules. These are located in the centre tunnel just behind the two seats.

Minimal adjustments were made to accommodate the new powertrain, including using an independent multilink front suspension with pushrod damper struts, instead of the double wishbone used by the petrol powered SLS AMG.

Maximum power is down but not by much. The E-Cell produces 392 kW (526 bhp / 533 PS) and peak torque of 880 Nm (649 lb-ft). Apparently the battery pack has a maximum load potential of 480 kW (644 bhp / 653 PS). It will be able to go from 0 - 60 mph in 4 seconds, which is still very much in the same league. Mercedes has not said anything about the range or battery recharging details.

Too keep things cool there are two cooling circuits, an extended front apron to assist airflow under the body, as well as an extendable front splitter which the driver can control through a button. The SLS's optional ceramic composite brakes with sizes 18.5-inches up front and 14.2-inches at the rear are fitted.

Outside you will see a wider front grille, LED headlights, new air outlets on the bonnet, 19-inch front and 20-inch rear wheels with 265/35 and 295/30 tyres respectively.

The interior features an AMG instrument cluster with displays for speed, charge status, a mix of leather and Alcantara for the seats and a 10-inch touch screen among others.

No tentative launch dates have been released, except to say the SLS AMG E-Cell is part of the company's 2015 strategy of reducing fuel consumption and carbon emissions.

(Im liking the Full-LED headlights, and that new front bumper looks far better than the standard one, wouldnt you say?)

 

[MercFanUk]

I'm loving that interior

 

[carnut]

I wonder if they will engineer in a nice V8 sound!?

The interior is very cool

Thanks Killerhertz

 

[Smarties]

BLOOMING HECK!!! That shouldn't work...but it does! Where do I sign?

 

[NormanC]

Maximum power is down but not by much. The E-Cell produces 392 kW (526 bhp / 533 PS) and peak torque of 880 Nm (649 lb-ft). Apparently the battery pack has a maximum load potential of 480 kW (644 bhp / 653 PS). It will be able to go from 0 - 60 mph in 4 seconds, which is still very much in the same league. Mercedes has not said anything about the range or battery recharging details.

I have a worry that it'll be 0 - 60 mph once and then back to a plug and socket!

 

[MercFanUk]

I can imagine the balance being amazing on this, all the weight seems to be on both axles - by rights it should corner fantastically...

 

[slsamg1]

5 AMGs

Thought people might enjoy this - five beautiful SLS AMGs in one place. YouTube - A quintet of SLS AMGs

 

[KillerHERTZ]

[YOUTUBE]Gn0lQ-raV60[/YOUTUBE]

 

[MercFanUk]

It's really weird seeing that pootle about and hearing nothing but tyre roar...

 

[iscaboy]

Crap for what a company like MB could have done for what will no doubt be a VERY expensive car.

1. Hub motors with full regenerative braking, mechanical brake as backup / emergency only.
2. Cover the bonnet and roof with solar panels.
3. Used non friable battery tech like zinc/air.

Li-on is all very well but they age badly and fast, just ask any laptop owner, whatever new range is within 5 years it will be halved, and since 99.9% of Li-on cells on the planet are made by either Panasonic or Moli cost is not something MB can control...

Integrated hub motors are much more efficient than gearboxes, and then you can rid the design of the biggest energy waster of all, braking, by using a full regenerative braking system where ALL braking energy (minus heat losses) goes back into the battery bank.

They could also have covered the top of the car in solar panels, nominal rating around 400/500 watts for that area, so 250 watts for an average english weather day, not an inconsiderable amount considering it is available for free all day every day, assuming the battery bank capacity is in the region of 48 Kwh, of which only 24 Kwh is usable unless you want to age the batteries even faster than 5 years, 250 watts for 8 hours will put 2 Kwh in, for free, per day, or around 5% of the nominal capacity, or 2.5% of the total capacity... if you lived somewhere further south and didn't mind hammering the batteries the solar panels could put in the full 500 watts for 12 hours or 6 Kwh per day, so drive it one day, park it 8 days, and never have to plug it in anywhere.

The big fail is Li-on, the rest of the drivetrain and electronics could be made INCREDIBLY durable, even compared to my 20 year old W124, but figure in 7 complete battery changes in that time and suddenly the cost of the rest of the car is irrelevant.

Smiths electric vehicles have been making this stuff for over 70 years continuous, everyone wibbles on about the tesla and stuff like this, but Smiths are past masters, and they are still using lead acid, because the installed cost per kwh of energy obtained from the battery is lower than li-on etc.

 

[iscaboy]

I guess I must explain the math..

100 Ah lead acid battery 60 quid.

You can draw 10 amps for 10 hours at nominal 12 volts, that's 120 watts for 10 hours, or 1.2 Kwh.

Do that 50 times (deep cycle) and you basically killed the battery, mebbe half the capacity left, so you got 50 x 1.2 Kwh or 60 Kwh out of your battery, so battery cost £1 per Kwh, plus the cost of electric to charge it, say 15p by the time you factor in efficiency losses, so the bottom line is lead acid derived electric is £1.15 per Kwh, assume an 80% efficient electric drivetrain and that's around £1.40 per Kwh converted into vehicle motion.

Li-on typically works out around 75% more per Kwh than lead acid, so around £2.50 per Kwh of li-on energy converted into vehicle motion.

£1.15 buys a litre of diesel, and diesel contains around 10 Kwh of energy per litre, so 11p per Kwh

So ball park figures per Kwh of energy converted into vehicle motion

• Lead acid £1.40
• Li-on £2.50
• Diesel £0.11

If you figure 1 Kwh per mile vehicle energy consumption (around 45 mpg on diesel, around 45 Kwh in a gallon of diesel) then at 12,000 miles per annum...

• Lead-acid £16,800 for a year's motoring
• Li-on £30,000 for a year's motoring.
• Diesel £1,320 (your diesel tank does not degrade)
• If you had an infinitely long mains lead and ran the car from economy 7 electric at 6p per Kwh, £720

Notice the last two are vastly cheaper than the first two because they do not have to incorporate the batteries wearing out...

On my 20 year old W124 this means that someone would have spent £300,000 on lead acid batteries, and £600,000 on li-on batteries, at today's money...or £25,000 on diesel, at today's money, or £12,500 on the infinitely long mains lead and economy 7, at today's money.

The battery is what kills it, every single time.

 

[dinoy]

any plans for mass production to the masses with hybrid with the e-cell n small engine like when the brought slk as sport convertible maybe slk baby version!!

 

[KillerHERTZ]

[YOUTUBE]IOlfZk-hw34&[/YOUTUBE]

 

[MercFanUk]

More info on Top Gear website: Shock therapy: Mercedes? electric SLS - BBC Top Gear

 

[LJ22]

SLS AMG E-cell by Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG Official, on Flickr

For more great images of the E-Cell visit:
Sls amg e-cell - a set on Flickr