Mercedes-Benz have developed a battery electric version of the SLS AMG
With such the SLS AMG imminent you’d forgive Mercedes for sitting back and reaping the fruits of their hard work. So it may come as a surprise to some that after introducing the Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG last year, Mercedes-Benz announced it would develop a battery electric version of the supercar.
Now the first prototype is ready to be unveiled to the world, and if the colour is anything to go by (AMG Lumilectric Mango to be exact) it is set to cause quite a stir!
Powered by a quartet of electric motors, the SLS E-Cell has a pair of motors at each axle incorporated with reduction gears to drive all four wheels.
The motors top out at 12,000 rpm and apply 526 horsepower and 649 pound-feet of torque to the wheels, enough to ensure the SLS AMG E-Cell gets to 60 mph in just 4 seconds. To the technical part - the installation of the front motors require the replacement of the double-wishbone suspension with a multi-link setup with push-rod dampers. The lithium polymer batteries are split between the centre tunnel and a box mounted behind the cockpit, and can provide a combined output of 643 horsepower. Two separate cooling circuits manage the temperature of the battery packs and related power electronics by either heating or cooling the units as required.
While the SLS AMG E-Cell’s extendable front splitter works with the reshaped rear diffuser to increase available down force beyond what's possible with the standard 6.2 litre V8-powered SLS.
It’s not just the exterior that gets a make over, the inside of the electric SLS has a 10 inch touch screen in the centre console.
Who said being green was boring?!
