Mercedes to produce a Full Electric

It’s now official. German automaker Mercedes-Benz confirmed its intentions to build a fully electric version of the SLS AMG Supercar. The AWD car will have separate transmissions for both axles and electric motors at each wheel. With a combined power output of 392 Kw–which packs 649 lb-ft of torque–the car will get a jaw-dropping 526 horsepower.

This will push the zero-emission car from 0 to 62 MPH in just 4 seconds! All of this is available the moment the motors turn.

The Tesla is great, sure. It’s all hot and electric. But the Gullwing is a classic; it’s iconic. This defines the stronghold electric vehicles are bound to have on American culture.

Electronic controllers will assure dynamically optimized power transmission by means of torque vectoring. That means the wheel with the most traction gets the most juice. The motors will be fueled by a 400-volt liquid cooled, high-voltage lithium-ion battery pack delivering 40 Ah of current. The packs will run down the center of the chassis.

They can be charged via an electrical outlet and also through regenerative braking. Since an electric version of the car was considered during its design, no modifications will be needed to the car’s lightweight aluminum frame. In fact, the electrical version is expected to perform on par with the petro-based SLS. Well, except it will be quieter than its V-8 sibling.

“With the SLS AMG with electric drive, we wanted to redefine the super sports car. For us, it is not just about responsibility. We attach just as much importance to excitement and classic AMG performance,” says Volker Mornhinweg, Chief Executive Officer of Mercedes. There was no mention of where Mercedes will be picking up these fancy EV parts but I am sure parent corporation Daimler will have some say in it. Daimler owns a big chunk of Tesla Motors. Also undisclosed is the vehicles’ range on a single charge.

Source : Gas2.0, by Jerry James Stone, July 20th, 2009